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Title: OpenSQUID: A Flexible Open-Source Software Framework for the Control of SQUID Electronics

Abstract

We report commercially available computer-controlled SQUID electronics are usually delivered with software providing a basic user interface for adjustment of SQUID tuning parameters, such as bias current, flux offset, and feedback loop settings. However, in a research context it would often be useful to be able to modify this code and/or to have full control over all these parameters from researcher-written software. In the case of the STAR Cryoelectronics PCI/PFL family of SQUID control electronics, the supplied software contains modules for automatic tuning and noise characterization, but does not provide an interface for user code. On the other hand, the Magnicon SQUIDViewer software package includes a public application programming interface (API), but lacks auto-tuning and noise characterization features. To overcome these and other limitations, we are developing an "open-source" framework for controlling SQUID electronics which should provide maximal interoperability with user software, a unified user interface for electronics from different manufacturers, and a flexible platform for the rapid development of customized SQUID auto-tuning and other advanced features. Finally, we have completed a first implementation for the STAR Cryoelectronics hardware and have made the source code for this ongoing project available to the research community on SourceForge (http://opensquid.sourceforge.net) under the GNUmore » public license.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Department of Physics and Astronomy
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development (NA-22)
Contributing Org.:
STAR Cryoelectronics LLC, Magnicon GmbH
OSTI Identifier:
1440756
Grant/Contract Number:  
NA0000454
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 23; Journal Issue: 3; Conference: Applied Superconductivity Conference 2012 (ASC 2012), October 7-12, 2012, Portland, OR; Journal ID: ISSN 1051-8223
Publisher:
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; 75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; Auto-tuning; Digital Control; Feedback Loop; Open Source; Software Package; SQUIDs

Citation Formats

Jaeckel, Felix T., Lafler, Randy J., and Boyd, S. T. P. OpenSQUID: A Flexible Open-Source Software Framework for the Control of SQUID Electronics. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1109/tasc.2013.2245712.
Jaeckel, Felix T., Lafler, Randy J., & Boyd, S. T. P. OpenSQUID: A Flexible Open-Source Software Framework for the Control of SQUID Electronics. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/tasc.2013.2245712
Jaeckel, Felix T., Lafler, Randy J., and Boyd, S. T. P. Wed . "OpenSQUID: A Flexible Open-Source Software Framework for the Control of SQUID Electronics". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/tasc.2013.2245712. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1440756.
@article{osti_1440756,
title = {OpenSQUID: A Flexible Open-Source Software Framework for the Control of SQUID Electronics},
author = {Jaeckel, Felix T. and Lafler, Randy J. and Boyd, S. T. P.},
abstractNote = {We report commercially available computer-controlled SQUID electronics are usually delivered with software providing a basic user interface for adjustment of SQUID tuning parameters, such as bias current, flux offset, and feedback loop settings. However, in a research context it would often be useful to be able to modify this code and/or to have full control over all these parameters from researcher-written software. In the case of the STAR Cryoelectronics PCI/PFL family of SQUID control electronics, the supplied software contains modules for automatic tuning and noise characterization, but does not provide an interface for user code. On the other hand, the Magnicon SQUIDViewer software package includes a public application programming interface (API), but lacks auto-tuning and noise characterization features. To overcome these and other limitations, we are developing an "open-source" framework for controlling SQUID electronics which should provide maximal interoperability with user software, a unified user interface for electronics from different manufacturers, and a flexible platform for the rapid development of customized SQUID auto-tuning and other advanced features. Finally, we have completed a first implementation for the STAR Cryoelectronics hardware and have made the source code for this ongoing project available to the research community on SourceForge (http://opensquid.sourceforge.net) under the GNU public license.},
doi = {10.1109/tasc.2013.2245712},
journal = {IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity},
number = 3,
volume = 23,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Feb 06 00:00:00 EST 2013},
month = {Wed Feb 06 00:00:00 EST 2013}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record

Figures / Tables:

Fig. 1 Fig. 1: Screenshot of the main window of the GUI, showing active controls for both modulation (PFL-100) and two-stage (PFL-102) readout.

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Figures/Tables have been extracted from DOE-funded journal article accepted manuscripts.