PICA Documentation

PICA (Python Instrument Control and Automation) is a modular, open-source Python suite for automating high-precision transport measurements. It supports a resistance range spanning 24 orders of magnitude (10 nΩ – 10 PΩ), pyroelectric current detection down to 1 fA, and capacitance spectroscopy from 20 Hz – 2 MHz.

Quick Start

Recommended: install from PyPI

pip install pica-suite

Or install from source (inside a clone of the repository):

pip install .

Then launch the GUI:

pica-gui

It opens on Advanced Options, every module on one screen (the Home button brings up Quick Select). To open on Quick Select instead, run python -m pica.main_v2. The outdated classic launcher is still reachable from View > Legacy Launcher (v1, outdated).

Platforms: Windows 10/11 is fully supported and used daily with real instruments. On Linux, installation, the test suite and every GUI are verified; measurements against real instruments are not yet verified. macOS has not been tested.

Key Features

Unified GUI — Single launcher for all measurement modules
Wide resistance range — 10 nΩ to 10 PΩ across four hardware configurations
Real-time plotting — Live visualization during acquisition
Process isolation — each measurement program runs in its own process, so a hung or crashed program does not take down the launcher
Open source — MIT licensed, fully auditable SCPI commands

Getting Help

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