Teaching Computer-Based Data Acquisition and Analysis

Research Skills Using LabVIEW John Essick Reed College

• Reed Advanced Laboratory

• LabVIEW-Based Instruction

• Required Cost and Time for Instruction

OUTLINE:

BASIC RESEARCH SKILLS Apply Classroom Theory Background Literature Searches Consultation With Experts Adequate Level of Precision Range of an Approximation Suppression of Competing Effects

Electronics Computer-Assisted Data Acquisition Optics Vacuum Technology Data Analysis Techniques Design of Sophisticated Instrumentation Patience Consistency Checking

Outside Interest In Results Benefit Of Peer Review Honest, Timely, Concise Report of Results

PHYSICAL UNDERSTANDING

DATA-TAKING SKILLS

RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY

BASIC RESEARCH SKILLS Apply Classroom Theory Background Literature Searches Consultation With Experts Adequate Level of Precision Range of an Approximation Suppression of Competing Effects

Electronics Computer-Assisted Data Acquisition Optics Vacuum Technology Data Analysis Techniques Design of Sophisticated Instrumentation Patience Consistency Checking

Outside Interest In Results Benefit Of Peer Review Honest, Timely, Concise Report of Results

PHYSICAL UNDERSTANDING

DATA-TAKING SKILLS

RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY

REED JUNIOR-LEVEL ADVANCED LAB

Amplifier, Filter, Oscillator, Logic

A/D, D/A Hardware Microprocessor

Assembly Language

Guided and Independent Experiments

Novice Student

ELECTRONICS

PHYSICS

COMPUTER (Low-Level)

Autonomous Researcher

Senior Thesis Summer Internship

Graduate School Career

REED JUNIOR-LEVEL ADVANCED LAB

Amplifier, Filter, Oscillator, Logic

Guided and Independent Experiments

Novice Student

ELECTRONICS

PHYSICS

COMPUTER (High-Level)

Autonomous Researcher

Senior Thesis Summer Internship

Graduate School Career

Data Acquisition Board Communicate via Interface Bus

Symbolic Language Data Analysis

OCCIDENTAL SOLID STATE LAB EXPERIENCE Require Students to Write GPIB Code (BASIC, FORTRAN, C):

10 REAL Rdg 20 ASSIGN @Dmm TO 722 30 OUTPUT @Dmm; “MEASURE:VOLTAGE:DC? 10,0.003” 40 ENTER @Dmm; Rdg 50 PRINT Rdg 60 END

OCCIDENTAL SOLID STATE LAB EXPERIENCE Require Students to Write GPIB Code (BASIC, FORTRAN, C):

10 REAL Rdg 20 ASSIGN @Dmm TO 722 30 OUTPUT @Dmm; “MEASURE:VOLTAGE:DC? 10,0.003” 40 ENTER @Dmm; Rdg 50 PRINT Rdg 60 END

Lesson Learned for Computer-Based Instruction:

Need to Teach a Programming Language (with Short Learning Curve)

ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM 1. Well-Designed, Popular System

Computer Multi-Function Data Acquisition (DAQ) General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB)

LabVIEW Software

National Instruments Products

LabVIEW System

ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM 1. Well-Designed, Popular System

Computer Multi-Function Data Acquisition (DAQ) General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB)

LabVIEW Software

National Instruments Products

• Integrated Hardware & Software

• Extensive Data Acquisition & Analysis Capabilities

• Widely Used in Research Labs

LabVIEW System

ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM 2. LabVIEW Programming Language is Graphical

Block Diagram (Program Code):

Front Panel (User Interface):

ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM 2. LabVIEW Programming Language is Graphical

Block Diagram (Program Code):

Front Panel (User Interface):

• Novel

• Intuitive

• Do Useful Things Quickly

3. Express VIs for Streamlined Programming of Common Tasks ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM

Digital Oscilloscope Using DAQ Assistant Express VI

Digital Oscilloscope Using DAQ Assistant Express VI

Digital Oscilloscope Using DAQ Assistant Express VI

Thermistor Calibration Using Curve Fit Express VI

Steinhart-Hart Equation:

Digital Thermometer

A/D Ohm’s Law

Steinhart-Hart

Voltage Temperature

Software

4. Flexibility is Ideal for Independent Projects

Digital Oscilloscope DAQ Assistant

ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM

4. Flexibility is Ideal for Independent Projects

Spectrum Analyzer DAQ Assistant

ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM

FFT

OVERVIEW OF LABVIEW INSTRUCTION Week 1: Structures and Plotting (6 Hours) While Loop and Waveform Chart

For Loop and Waveform Graph Mathscript Node and XY Graph

Week 2: Data Acquisition and Generation with DAQ Assistant (3 Hours) Analog-to-Digital Conversion, Digital Oscilloscope Digital-to-Analog Conversion, Function Generator

Week 3: Data Files, Local Variables, Structures (6 Hours) Data Files and Character Strings Shift Registers Case Structure Sequence Structure

Week 4: Data Analysis (3 Hours) Least-Squares Curve Fitting, Digital Thermometer Fast Fourier Transform, Spectrum Analyzer

Week 5: PID Temperature Control System (3 Hours)

Spring Semester: Instrument Control via Interface Bus (4 Hours) GPIB/USB Control of Instrument

Oxford University Press

DATA FILES Spreadsheet Format

DATA ANALYSIS Numerical Integration Numerical Differentiation Curve Fitting Fast Fourier Transform

DATA ACQUISITION Digital Oscilloscope Function Generator Digital Thermometer Spectrum Analyzer PID Temperature Control System

GPIB/USB CONTROL Agilent 34410A Multimeter

SPRING-SEMESTER PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS

• Optical Bandgap of Semiconductor (Monochromator)

• Doppler-Free Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy (Laser Diode)

• Temperature Dependence of Diode’s Saturation Current (Cryostat)

• Isotope Shift of Balmer Series in Hydrogen (Spectrometer)

• Mass of Cosmic Ray Muon (Fast-Timing Electronics)

• Fabrication of Fullerenes (Materials Fabrication)

• Proof of Existence of Photons (Single-Photon Detection)

Guided Experiments:

Chaotic Circuit

LabVIEW

(Kiers et al, AJP 72, 503)

High-Temperature Superconductor

Agilent 34410A

Four-Probe Resistance

Agilent 34410A

Thermocouple

Thermocouple Voltage

LabVIEW

GPIB

Insulated Sample

COST

1. PCIe-6351: ($1400):

2. USB-6009: ($250):

3. myDAQ: ($199 for Students):

Limited Signal Generation

Analog Input 16-Bit, 1.25 MSample/s Analog Output 16-Bit, 2.86 MSample/s

No Hardware Triggering

Analog Input 16-Bit, 200 kSample/s Analog Output 16-Bit, 200 kSample/s

Analog Input 14-Bit, 48 kSample/s Analog Output 12-Bit, 150 Sample/s

TIME

1. Seven-Week Intermediate Skill Level

2. Three-Week Introduction (Basic LabVIEW + DAQ Assistant)

3. Student Edition of LabVIEW $20 Learn Programming as Homework Control Hardware in Lab

4. myDAQ + Student Edition of LabVIEW $199

Learn Programming and Control Hardware as Homework