Big Sky YAG

Python interface for a Big Sky Laser BSS Q-switched YAG laser power supply.

[!WARNING] This package controls hazardous laser hardware. Software validation does not replace physical interlocks, protective equipment, training, or an approved operating procedure. Confirm that the optical area is safe before enabling the flashlamp, Q-switch, or shutter.

Installation

Big Sky YAG requires Python 3.11 through 3.14.

pip install big-sky-yag

Basic operation

The controller uses a serial connection. The defaults are 9600 baud with two-second read and write timeouts. port is the canonical PySerial parameter name, so the positional BigSkyYag("COM4") form is equivalent to BigSkyYag(port="COM4"). The former resource_name="COM4" keyword remains available as a compatibility alias.

import time

from big_sky_yag import BigSkyYag

with BigSkyYag("COM4") as yag:
    # Configure the laser while it is stopped.
    yag.flashlamp.frequency = 10.0  # Hz
    yag.flashlamp.voltage = 900  # V
    yag.qswitch.delay = 150  # microseconds

    # Start cooling and allow flow to establish before firing. The tested system
    # takes approximately two seconds; follow the procedure for your installation.
    yag.pump = True
    time.sleep(2.0)

    print(yag.laser_status)
    print(yag.flashlamp.interlock)
    print(yag.qswitch.interlock)

    try:
        # arm() starts the flashlamp and Q-switch and opens the shutter, then
        # verifies the flashlamp Start and open shutter. It also verifies the
        # Q-switch Start under internal synchronization; an externally-triggered
        # Q-switch idles awaiting triggers and never reports Start, so that check
        # is skipped in external mode. It does not start the pump or independently
        # decide whether every site-specific operating prerequisite is satisfied.
        yag.arm(timeout_s=2.0)

        # Perform the experiment here.
    finally:
        # disarm() closes the shutter, stops the Q-switch and flashlamp, and
        # positively verifies their stopped/closed states.
        yag.disarm(timeout_s=2.0)
        yag.pump = False

The context manager closes serial connections created by BigSkyYag. When an instrument is injected for testing or integration, its owner remains responsible for closing it.

You can also construct the device explicitly, as in earlier releases. Call close() when finished so the serial port is released:

from big_sky_yag import BigSkyYag

yag = BigSkyYag("COM4")
try:
    print(yag.laser_status)
    # Configure and operate the laser here.
finally:
    yag.close()

Test and integration transports can be injected without supplying a dummy port:

yag = BigSkyYag(instrument=my_instrument)

Trigger and firing modes

Use enums for statically typed configuration:

from big_sky_yag import QSwitchMode, Trigger

yag.flashlamp.trigger = Trigger.INTERNAL
yag.flashlamp.trigger = Trigger.EXTERNAL

yag.qswitch.mode = QSwitchMode.AUTO
yag.qswitch.mode = QSwitchMode.BURST
yag.qswitch.mode = QSwitchMode.EXTERNAL

Configure the burst pulse count before selecting burst mode:

yag.qswitch.pulses = 10
yag.qswitch.mode = QSwitchMode.BURST

Common properties and commands

Additional operations:

yag.save()
serial_number = yag.serial_number

# Device information and status
revision = yag.software_revision            # e.g. "SPECTRA-SY 3.68"
revision_date = yag.software_revision_date  # "dd/mm/yy"
uptime = yag.operating_time                 # "hhhh:mm"
hg_ok = yag.hg_temperature_ok               # IHG test
run_opens_shutter = yag.shutter_at_run      # ROF; also settable
replies_enabled = yag.echo                  # ECH

lamp_total = yag.flashlamp.counter
lamp_user = yag.flashlamp.user_counter
yag.flashlamp.user_counter_reset()
yag.flashlamp.save_user_counter()

qswitch_total = yag.qswitch.counter
qswitch_user = yag.qswitch.user_counter
yag.qswitch.user_counter_reset()

yag.qswitch.single()

[!CAUTION] yag.qswitch.delay_min / delay_max write the controller's factory Q-switch delay limits, and yag.set_echo(False) (ECH0) makes the controller stop replying until ECH1 is sent. Use these only when you understand the effect on the laser and the RS-485 bus.

Status, interlocks, and failures

yag.laser_status returns an immutable LaserStatus snapshot. Its flashlamp_running and qswitch_running convenience properties are true only for continuous START operation, not a single-shot state.

The IF, IF2, and IQ interlock registers on the tested controller use a one-deep snapshot-on-read buffer. The library reads each register twice and uses the second response so callers receive the current sample.

The public exception hierarchy is:

• BigSkyYagError: base library runtime error.
• BigSkyYagTransportError: incomplete or undecodable serial data.
• BigSkyYagProtocolError: a controller reply has an unknown or invalid shape.
• BigSkyYagTransitionError: an arm/disarm state could not be positively verified.

Unknown responses are never interpreted as a closed shutter or another safe state. arm() attempts a verified disarm if arming fails. If both operations fail, the exception chain preserves both failures.

Protocol notes

• Commands are terminated with CRLF.
• With no serial-number address, the library uses the controller's > broadcast prefix. Avoid a broadcast query when multiple responding controllers share the RS-485 bus.
• The exact numbered-address wire format still needs a real-device capture. The existing behavior is preserved pending that verification.
• Controller responses are ASCII fixed-width fields on the tested system. Some service-manual examples show inconsistent printed lengths; see the command-reference transcription for unresolved details.
• Instances are not designed for concurrent commands from multiple threads.

Development

uv sync --locked --dev
uv run ruff format --check .
uv run ruff check .
uv run mypy
uv run pytest
uv build
uv run twine check dist/*

The test suite uses simulated transports and does not require laser hardware.