A LABVIEW-BASED CONTROL-SYSTEM FOR A SURFACE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTAL STATION

We present a software package developed on the LabVIEW platform which controls a synchrotron radiation experimental station for surface scie nce experiments and allows users efficient use of the equipment. In co ntrast to other programming environments, LabVIEW offers programmers a n effective way of integrating the functions of several real instrumen ts in a virtual instrument. By means of GPIB and serial communication our software controls most of the instruments attached to the experime ntal station. We developed programs (sub-virtual instruments) that all ow interaction with the instruments by means of realistic-looking and -acting control virtual tools (knobs and buttons), which the user can 'handle' on the computer screen using the mouse. These 'virtual panels ' allow simultaneous control of all the devices involved in a specific experiment, performing sequences of operations in an automated way. W e present here the general principles of operation of the program, hig hlighting the advantages that this approach provides.