Idea: Info file (similar to the “Liesmich” [German for “readme”] files in use in Freiburg for other types of experiments) containing important additional information to a measurement.
Aim: Import in the TA toolbox. The informations get added to the current dataset.
Longterm goal: Import into a laboratory information system.
<note important>Currently (2012-10-22) the following specification of a file format is still very much in development. Therefore, all informations can change at any time without prior notice.
Note: The German version of this document might be more recent.</note>
For those who like to see something, rather than reading (dull and) lengthly description: an example can be found further below.
Following a general description of the file format.
regexp
with option split
).In the following, each block of the info file is described. An example of such an info file will follow below.
Besides the identifier string, currently there are the following blocks:
The block “GENERAL” contains a bit of general information regarding the measurement.
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Filename | Name of the data file |
Date | Date |
Time start | Time the measurement was started |
Time end | Time the measurement was finished |
Operator | Operator's Name |
Label | Short, comprehensive, unique (if possible) description/label of the measurement Used for listing in, e.g., MATLAB® |
Experiment | Type of experiment |
Purpose | Reason for performing the experiment |
Spectrometer | Short, unique (if possible) description/label of the spectrometer used |
Software | Name of the software/program used for the measurement including its version number (or date) |
Runs | Number of runs |
Shot repetition rate | Shot repetition rate of the experiment |
The block “SAMPLE” contains the most important informations regarding the sample.
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Name | unique (if possible) and short name of the sample |
Description | Details of the sample |
Buffer | Details of the buffer used |
Preparation | Details of the preparation |
Cuvette | Cuvette used Possibly the exact type and manufacturer |
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Points | Number of points of a time trace |
Trigger position | Position of the Trigger pulse (index) |
Length | Length of the time trace |
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Type | Type of spectrograph used |
Model | Model name of spectrograph used |
Aperture front | Aperture at the front of the spectrograph |
Aperture back | Aperture at the back of the spectrograph |
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Type | Type of detector (PMT, CCD) |
Model | Model name of detector |
Power supply | Power supply of detector |
The block “RECORDER” contains all parameters of the transient recorder (ideally directly retrieved from the device).
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Averages | Number of averages per time trace (“shots per point”) |
Sensitivity | Sensitivity of input |
Bandwidth | Bandwidth |
Time base | Time base |
Coupling | Coupling mode |
Impedance | Impedance |
Model | Model name of transient recorder used |
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Type | Type of light source used for pumping (laser, …) |
Model | Model name of pump light source |
Wavelength | Wavelength of pump light source |
Power | Power of pump light beam |
Repetition rate | Repetition rate of pump light beam |
Tunable type | Type of tunable light source used (OPO or dye laser) |
Tunable model | Model name of tunable light source used |
Tunable dye | In case of dye laser: Name of the laser dye |
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Type | Type of proble light source |
Model | Model name of proble light source |
Wavelength start | Start value of wavelength axis |
Wavelength stop | End value of wavelength axis |
Wavelength step | Step width of wavelength axis |
Wavelength sequence | Direction of measurement (up/down/stochastic) or comma-separated list of wavelength regions measured |
Power | Power of probe light beam |
Filter | Filter(s) used (comma separated list) |
Background | Background correction used (none/lamp/fluorescence) |
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Temperature | Temperature with unit |
Controller | Temperature controller used |
Cryostat | Cryostat used |
Cryogen | Cryogen used (H2O, LN2, LHe) |
The fields in detail:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Field | Magnetic field with unit |
Coil type | Type of coils used |
Coil model | Model name of coils used |
Power supply | Power supply used |
Gaussmeter | verwendetes Gaussmeter |
This block is only of interest if - as in Oxford - all time traces are separately (and manually) recorded and saved in separate files. As during a measurement details - such as filters in the probe beam - may change, there are a number of fields with information specific for each time trace.
The fields in detail, each for a single time trace:
Fieldname | Description |
---|---|
Filename | Filename |
Wavelength | Wavelength measured at |
Averages | Number of averages per time profile |
Runs | Number of independent measurements per time profile |
Filter | Filter(s) used comma separated list |
XX###
XX
stands for the filter type: LP - long pass; SP - short pass; BP - band pass###
stands for the filter's characteristic/nominal wavelengthBP###-###
As long as the comment block is the last block of a file, everything can be added here that seems useful and sensible.
Following an example of an info file for a TA measurement with the full set of (possible) fields and blocks. Depending on where the file gets used, some of these fields/blocks may not be present.
TA Info file - v. 0.2d (2012-03-31) GENERAL Filename: Date: Time start: Time end: Operator: Label: Spectrometer: Software: Runs: Shot repetition rate: SAMPLE Name: Description: Preparation: Cuvette: TRANSIENT Points: Trigger position: Length: SPECTROGRAPH Type: Model: Aperture front: Aperture back: DETECTION Type: Model: Power supply: Impedance: Time constant: RECORDER Model: Averages: Sensitivity: Bandwidth: Time base: Coupling: PUMP Type: Model: Wavelength: Power: Repetition rate: Tunable type: Tunable model: Tunable dye: PROBE Type: Model: Wavelength start: Wavelength stop: Wavelength step: Wavelength sequence: Power: Filter: Background: TEMPERATURE Temperature: Controller: Cryostat: Cryogen: MFE Field: Coil type: Coil model: Power supply: Gaussmeter: TIME PROFILES Scan 1 Filename: Wavelength: Averages: Runs: Filter: Scan 2 Filename: Wavelength: Averages: Runs: Filter: COMMENT
TA Info file - v. 0.2d (2012-03-31) GENERAL Filename: test Date: 20xx-xx-xx Time start: 00:00:00 Time end: 00:00:00 Operator: A. Kabelschacht Label: Testprobe Spectrometer: LP920-K Software: L900, Version 6.9.1 Runs: 1 Shot repetition rate: 0.0625 Hz SAMPLE Name: FAD Description: FAD in Puffer Preparation: Cuvette: TRANSIENT Points: 2000 Trigger position: 341 Length: 10 us SPECTROGRAPH Type: Czerny-Turner with Triple Grating Turret Model: standard Aperture front: Aperture back: DETECTION Type: PMT Model: standard Power supply: standard Impedance: 50 Ohm Time constant: RECORDER Model: Averages: 10 Sensitivity: Bandwidth: 1.0 Time base: 5 ns Coupling: PUMP Type: Laser Model: Wavelength: 460 nm Power: Repetition rate: 10 Hz Tunable type: OPO Tunable model: PROBE Type: Lamp Model: standard Wavelength start: 385 nm Wavelength stop: 655 nm Wavelength step: 10 nm Wavelength sequence: up Power: Filter: Background: lamp TEMPERATURE Temperature: 285 K Controller: Cryostat: none Cryogen: H2O COMMENT Und hier gibt's ein bisschen Freitextkommentar - aber bitte OHNE Umlaute und andere Sonderzeichen!
TA Info file - v. 0.2d (2012-03-31) GENERAL Filename: test Date: 20xx-xx-xx Time start: 00:00:00 Time end: 00:00:00 Operator: A. Kabelschacht Label: Test sample Spectrometer: Oxford CRY Lab Software: Slow20111104 Runs: 1 Shot repetition rate: 1/20 Hz SAMPLE Name: FAD Description: FAD in buffer Preparation: Cuvette: Hellma QS 10.00 TRANSIENT Points: 25000 Trigger position: 2500 Length: 50 us SPECTROGRAPH Type: Ebert-Fastie Model: Oriel 77250 Aperture front: Aperture back: DETECTION Type: PMT Model: Hamamatsu R928 Power supply: Brandenburg 476R Impedance: 500 Ohm Time constant: 50 ns RECORDER Model: Iwatsu-LeCroy LT342L 500 MHz Averages: 1 Sensitivity: 5.0 mV Bandwidth: 500 MHz Time base: 5.0 us Coupling: DC PUMP Type: Laser Model: Continuum Surelite-1 Wavelength: 450 nm Power: 3 mJ Repetition rate: 1 Hz Tunable type: Dye Tunable model: Sirah Cobra Tunable dye: Coumarin-450 PROBE Type: Lamp Model: Oriel 66021 Wavelength start: 370 nm Wavelength stop: 650 nm Wavelength step: 10 nm Wavelength sequence: 530-650,530-370 Power: Filter: LP390,LP500 Background: TEMPERATURE Temperature: Controller: Oxford ITC-503S Cryostat: Oxford Instruments Cryogen: LN2 MFE Field: 22 mT Coil type: Helmholtz Coil model: Power supply: Gaussmeter: TIME PROFILES Scan 1 Filename: Wavelength: Averages: Runs: Filter: Scan 2 Filename: Wavelength: Averages: Runs: Filter: COMMENT