Development of an Extensible Unified Control System Using the STARS Framework and Common Commands for Detector Control

TL;DR

A dedicated control architecture has been implemented based on the simple transmission and retrieval system (STARS) framework, incorporating the newly proposed STARS common commands for detector control (CCDC) -- a detector-specific data acquisition (DAQ) state and command system.

Abstract

Two Fresnel zone plates zooming optics have been successfully developed and installed at the AR-NE1A beamline of the Photon Factory at the high energy accelerator research organization (KEK) in Japan. To ensure the reliable and versatile operation of this optical instrumentation, a dedicated control architecture has been implemented based on the simple transmission and retrieval system (STARS) framework, incorporating the newly proposed STARS common commands for detector control (CCDC) -- a detector-specific data acquisition (DAQ) state and command system. This system serves as both a practical control system for zooming optics and a demonstration model for modular extensibility using the STARS framework and inter-operability among detector systems enabled by the CCDC command set. The system has been commissioned, and its performance has been verified at the AR NE1A beamline. The control architecture affords enhanced configurational flexibility for optical components and provides an interface appropriate for both routine users and advanced experimental protocols.

Figures (8)

• Figure 1: Schematic of the 2-FZPs zooming optics. In this optical system, positional adjustment of FZP2 (including removing FZP2 from the optical path) enables a wide range of variable magnification even with a short camera length. Here, the low magnification mode using only FZP1 is termed 1-FZP mode, and the high magnification mode using both FZP1 and FZP2 is termed 2-FZPs mode. Furthermore, inserting a knife edge at the back focal position of the FZP1 allows the acquisition of a Schlieren contrast image.
• Figure 2: Schematic of the STARS framework. This framework consists of client programs called STARS clients (Device Node 1, Device Node 2, GUI Terminal Node, and Monitor Node in this figure) and a server program called STARS server (in the center of this figure), and each STARS client is connected to the STARS server via a TCP/IP.
• Figure 3: Schematic of STARS CCDC in the detector control STARS client. The detector control client supporting CCDC implements six minimal control commands and seven DAQ states. The seven DAQ states each denote the following situations: DAQ_Deinitialized -- Initial state upon software launch. DAQ_Initialized -- State of initialization completed. DAQ_Configured -- State in which the parameter settings for using the detector are completed. DAQ_Calibrating -- State when detector calibration is in progress. DAQ_Calibrated -- This state indicates that the detector calibration is complete, and operational measurements can be performed. DAQ_Run -- A state describing the actual measurement by the detector is currently in progress. DAQ_Stop -- This state indicates that the measurement has stopped.
• Figure 4: Schematic of proposed new control system. In this system, the control of the optical system and the control of the detector are implemented as independent modules as STARS clients, and each module is interconnected via the STARS server. This system is relay-connected to the existing STARS based control system for upstream components such as monochromators and mirrors required for X-ray energy control. The user control and performs measurements via a unified control GUI.
• Figure 5: Test result of energy and optics switching. Test pattern images recorded by the Hamamatsu sCMOS detector C12849-111U and normalized by the X-ray beam profile. (a) First setup with 9.6 keV monochromatic X-ray condition. Magnitude is 61.01. This condition is stored in the control system. (b) Second setup with 14.4 keV monochromatic X-ray condition. Magnitude is 40.95. (c) 9.6 keV monochromatic X-ray condition restored from the previous 14.4 keV condition by the control system.