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arXiv · 1208.2607

A Distributed GUI-based Computer Control System for Atomic Physics Experiments

Aviv Keshet·Wolfgang Ketterle
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Abstract

Atomic physics experiments often require a complex sequence of precisely timed computer controlled events. A distributed GUI-based control system designed with such experiments in mind, The Cicero Word Generator, is described. The system makes use of a client-server separation between a user interface for sequence design and a set of output hardware servers. Output hardware servers are designed to use standard National Instruments output cards, but the client-server nature allows this to be extended to other output hardware. Output sequences running on multiple servers and output cards can be synchronized using a shared clock. By using an FPGA-generated variable frequency clock, redundant buffers can be dramatically shortened, and a time resolution of 100ns achieved over effectively arbitrary sequence lengths.

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Aviv Keshet, Wolfgang Ketterle. 2012-08-13. A Distributed GUI-based Computer Control System for Atomic Physics Experiments. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4773536

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