pstl-tools

Python scripts for making working with UMICH NERS PSTL Lab Equipment much easier

Current Version

v2024.12.0

Python Version

• v3.11

Requried Packages

• pyvisa (with VISA library aviable or pyvisa-py)
• numpy
• scipy
• pandas
• matplotlib

Optional Packages

pyvisa-py

• pyvisa-py

dev

• pip-tools
• psutil
• zeroconf

other

• pyserial
• alicat

Subpackages

Install

Via Python virtutal enviroment (venv)

1. Ensure python is installed
2. Run in command line

For Linux or Mac

python -m venv <path/to/directory/to/store/venvs/your-venv>

For Windows

python -m venv <path\to\directory\to\store\venvs\your-venv>

Replace python with the python version you want to use i.e. python3.11

3. Now activate your python venv

For Linux or Mac

source <path/to/directory/to/store/venvs>/bin/activate

For Windows

<path\to\directory\to\store\venvs>\Scripts\activate.bat

4. Run pip install (If you have a VISA library installed, if not skip to step 5)

pip install pstl-tools

--or--

python -m pip install pstl-tools

5. Must have one of the following

• VISA Library from NI-LABVIEW or alternative

• Install pyvisa-py and other dependences (open-source version of the previous)

If no visa library (from NI-LABVIEW or Keysight etc), you may see an error saying:

ValueError: Could not locate a VISA implementation. Install either the IVI binary or pyvisa-py.

then, run the following

pip install pyvisa-py

For more help with python venv

GUI Langmuir Example

Have a .CSV file comma delimlated with one-line for the headers.

Run the following once python package is installed via pip install

gui_langmuir <-additional flags> 

some optional flags are

• -S, --settings_file "path/to/settings_file.json"

i.e.

gui_langmuir -S settings_gui_langmuir.json

this runs a single Langmuir probe anaylsis and saves graphs when save button is hit.

A template hardcoded settings file can be found at https://github.com/umich-pstl/pstl-tools/blob/main/tests/gui_langmuir/settings/settings_gui_langmuir-hardcode_template.json

A buidling template is like https://github.com/umich-pstl/pstl-tools/blob/main/tests/gui_langmuir/settings/settings_gui_langmuir-02.json can also be used to in an automated script to quickly swap out probe JSON files.

In this JSON file, paths to the following are requried:

• solver.data.BUILD.file = <path\to\data\file.csv>
• solver.data.BUILD.negative = bool (false by default) The kwargs have delimiter is set to "," but can be "\t" for tab-delimited. If there is a header set header=0 if not, null. If there are extra rows above the header set skiprows=number of these rows.

The plasma settings need to also be defined under

• solver.plasma.BUILD (either neutral_gas = xenon, krypton, neon or m_i needs to be defined)

The probe dimensions need to be defined as well under

• solver.probe.BUILD.diameter = # (in meters)
• solver.probe.BUILD.length = # (in meters, leave as zero for planar)
• sovler.probe.BUILD.shape = (spherical, cylindrical, planar)

Optional definitions inclued

• preprocess = true (to remove noisy data points, default is true but maybe changed in the future)
• name = "NAME-TO-DISPLAY-ON-SOLVER-GUI"
• canvas_kwargs.saveas = "BASENAME-TO-SAVE-PLOT-AS.png"
• cavas_kwargs.width(or height) = size of gui plots
• panal_kwargs.displays_kwargs.fname = "NAME-TO-SAVE-RESULTS.csv"

future updates will have additional buttons to change the analysis methods

Examples of the GUI Langmuir can be found in the same locations as the template. Known issue in settings_langmuir_solver-01.json using the negative index for fits.

Acknowledgements

If you use this package for analysis, please acknowledge this package and version used.