srsinst.rga

srsinst.rga is a Python GUI application to control and acquire mass spectra from Stanford Research Systems (SRS) Residual Gas Analyzers (RGA). To use this package safely, you need to be familiar with SRS RGA. You can download the manual for your reference.

Installation

You should have a working Python with pip (Python package installer) installed. If you don't, install Python 3 to your system.

To install srsinst.rga as an instrument driver , use Python package installer pip from the command line.

python -m pip install srsinst.rga

To use its full GUI application, create a virtual environment and install:

python -m pip install srsinst.rga[full]

Run srsinst.rga as GUI application

if the Python Scripts directory is in PATH environment variable, Start the application by typing from the command line:

rga

If not,

python -m srsinst.rga

It will start the GUI application.

Connect to an RGA from the Instruments menu. Select a task from the Task menu. Press the green arrow to run the selected task.

You can write your own task or modify an existing one and run it from the application, too.

Use srsinst.rga as instument driver

• Start the Python program, or an editor of your choice to write a Python script.

• import the RGA class from rga package

• Initialize of an RGA instance to connect to an SRS RGA.

    from srsinst.rga import RGA100 as RGA
  
    # for TCPIP communication
    ip_address = '192.168.1.100'
    user_id = 'admin'
    password = 'admin'
  
    rga1 = RGA('tcpip', ip_address, user_id, password)
  
    # for serial communication
    # Baud rate for RGA100 is fixed to 28800
    # rga2 = RGA('serial', /dev/ttyUSB0', 28800)  # for Linux serial communication
  
    rga2 = RGA('serial', 'COM3', 28800)  # for Windows serial communication
  
    # or initialize a Rga instance without connection, then connect.
    rga3 = RGA()
    rga3.connect('tcpip', ip_address, user_id, password)
  

• Control ionizer parameters.

    # Set ionizer values
    rga1.ionizer.electron_energy = 70
    rga1.ionizer.ion_energy = 12
    rga1.ionizer.focus_voltage = 90
  
    # or
    rga1.ionizer.set_parameters(70, 12, 90)
  
  
    # Get the ionizer parameters
    a = rga1.ionizer.electron_energy
    b = rga1.ionizer.ion_energy
    c = rga1.ionizer.focus_voltage
  
    # or
    a, b, c = rga1.ionizer.get_parameters()
  
  
    # Set the filament emsission current.
  
    rga1.ionizer.emission_current = 1.0  # in the unit of mA
    rga1.ionizer.emission_current = 0.0  # It will turn off the filament
  
    # or
  
    rga1.filament.turn_on(1.0)  # emission cureent in the unit of mA
    rga1.filament.turn_off()
  
  
    # Get the emission current to check
    a = rga1.ionizer.emission_current
  

• Control detector parameters.

    # Set CEM voltage to the calibrated CEM voltage, or 0 to turn off
    rga1.cem.voltage = rga1.cem.stored_voltage
    rga1.cem.voltage = 0
  
    # or simply turn on or off
    rga1.cem.turn_on()
    rga1.cem.turn_off()
  
    # Read back CEM voltage setting
    a = rga1.cem.voltage
  

• Control scan parameters.

    # Set scan parameters
    rga1.scan.initial_mass = 1
    rga1.scan.final_mass = 50
    rga1.scan.scan_speed = 3
    rga1.scan.resolution = 10  # steps_per_amu
  
    # or
    rga1.scan.set_parameters(1, 50, 3, 10)
  
    # Get scan parameters
    mi, mf, nf, sa = rga1.scan.get_parameters()
  

• Run an analog scan.

    analog_spectrum  = rga1.scan.get_analog_scan()
    spectrum_in_torr = rga1.scan.get_partial_pressure_corrected_spectrum(analog_spectrum)
  
    # Get the mathing mass axis with the spectrum
    analog_mass_axis = rga1.scan.get_mass_axis(True)  # is it for analog scan? Yes.
  

• Run a histogram scan.

    histogram_spectrum  = rga1.scan.get_histogram_scan()
  
    # Get the matching mass axis with the spectrum
    histogram_mass_axis = rga1.get_mass_axis(False)  # is it for analog scan? No.
  

• Run a PvsT scan.

    masses_of_choice = [2, 18, 28, 32, 44]
    intensities = rga1.scan.get_multiple_mass_scan(masses_of_choice)
  

• Measure a single mass ion current of nitrogen at 28 amu

    intensity = rga1.scan.get_single_scan(28)
  

• Save the spectrum to a file.

    with open('spectrum.dat', 'w') as f:
        for x, y in zip(analog_mass_axis, analog_spectrum):
            f.write('{:.2f} {:.4e}\n'.format(x, y))
  

• Plot with matplotlib.

    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
    plt.plot(analog_mass_axis, spectrum_in_torr)
    plt.show()