PICA
Contents
PICA: Advanced High-Precision Transport Measurement Automation with Python
Table of Contents
1. Overview
2. Design Philosophy & Architecture
2.1 The Choice of Python
2.2 The Case for GUIs
2.3 Operational Transparency (No “Black Box”)
2.4 Architecture: Process Isolation
2.5 Self-Contained and Modular Programs
3. Installation & Setup
3.1 System Prerequisites
System Requirements & Compatibility
Software Dependencies
3.2 Getting Started
3.3 Running the Software
3.4 Development Dependencies for Testing (Optional)
Experimental Linux Instructions
4. Safety Precautions
5. Core Utilities
5.1 VISA Instrument Scanner
5.2 PICA Plotter Utility
5.3 Embedded Document Viewer
5.4 Measurement Module Interface
6. Supported Measurement Modules
6.1 Ultra Low Resistance Measurements
6.2 General Transport (Standard I-V & R-T)
6.3 High Precision Transport (mid resistance range)
6.4 Electrometry & High Resistance
6.5 Pyroelectric Current Measurements
6.6 High Voltage Poling
6.7 Dielectric Spectroscopy
6.8 Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy
6.9 Standalone Temperature Utilities
7. Releases and Versions
8. Common Issues & Troubleshooting
8.1 VISA Timeout Error or Resource Not Found
8.2 Instrument Control and Delays
8.3 Forcing a Re-installation for Debugging
9. Technical Reference
9.1 File Naming Convention
9.2 GPIB Address Guide
9.3 Repository Mirroring
9.4 Data File Format
10. Citation & Open Source
10.1 Preprint
11. Future Development
11.1 AC Resistivity (Lock-In)
11.2 Standalone Executables
11.3 New Utilities and Analysis Modules
12. Adding a New Instrument
13. Authors & Acknowledgments
Funding
14. License
15. Appendix A: Project File Structure
Instrument Manuals and Reference Documents
Keithley Instruments (Tektronix)
Lake Shore Cryotronics
PyMeasure Software
PyVISA Software
Keysight Technologies
Novocontrol Technologies
PICA
Index
Index