Automatic Experiments Interface of the SPARC4 (AutoExp)

This repo has the Automatic Experiments Interface of the SPARC4 (AutoExp). The AutoExp was developed to allow the automatic image acquisition of the SPARC4 cameras for engineering purposes. The AutoExp receives as a input a .txt file with a pseudo-langugage to control the software. This pseudo-langugage allows some basic commands like start an acquisition, set temperature, and wait until the thermal stabilization. Also, in this file, the CCD operation mode should be provided as a json format. For the image acquisition, the AutoExp communicates using the TCP-IP protocol with the SPARC4 Acquisition Control System (ACS). The ACS is responsible for all the management of the cameras during the acquisition of a image series. Even though you do not have a Andor EMCCD camera attached to your computer, the ACS runs in a simulation mode. This mode simulates the communication with the cameras, allowing the image acquisition.

This README presents a step-by-step tutorial to download the latest version of the code and run a simple image acquisition test. Figure below presents an image of the AutoExp.

Getting Started

These instructions will get you a copy of the project up and running on your local machine for development and testing purposes.

Prerequisites

First, you need to clone the ACS repo in your local computer. Therefore, use the following command:

git clone https://github.com/DBernardes/SPARC4_ACS.git

Then, there are some packages that need to be installed before running the software. The first one is the Software Development Kit (SDK) developed by Andor Technology to control the CCDs. The second one is the GFITSIO package, used to save the data acquired by the camera in FITS format.

Software Development Kit (SDK)

GFITSIO

Installing

Clone this repo using git clone https://github.com/DBernardes/AutoExp.git

Running the tests

1. Open the ACS project and run the S4ACS_Controller.vi. This will star the communications with the cameras.
2. Open the AutoExp project and run the main.vi.
3. Wait until the green leds turn on
4. Choose the script file. If you do not have a script file, you can find some example files in the "Scripts" folder.
5. Press start. The AutoExp should start the procedure found in the script file.

Authors and Contact

• Denis Bernardes:

email: denis.bernardes099@gmail.com

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE.md file for details