PICA: Advanced High-Precision Transport Measurement Automation with Python

Prathamesh Deshmukh1,2 and Sudip Mukherjee1,2

1. UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Mumbai Centre
2. Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India

Preprint Status: Published on December 22, 2025.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18377216

Abstract

PICA (Python-based Instrument Control and Automation) is a modular open-source software suite designed to automate advanced transport measurements for electronic devices and material samples. It provides an extensible, unified GUI-based framework to coordinate high-precision instruments including current sources (DC/AC), nanovoltmeters, electrometers, impedance analysers, and temperature controllers.

View PDF Preprint View on Academia.edu

Key Capabilities

Feature Specification / Support
Resistance Range 10-8 Ω to 1016 Ω (24 orders of magnitude)
Architecture Multiprocessing (UI-Isolation) & Fault Tolerant
Hardware Brands Keithley, Keysight, Lakeshore, Quantum Design (PPMS)
Measurements I-V, R vs T, Capacitance, Pyroelectric Current

How to Cite

Please use the following BibTeX entry for citations:

@techreport{deshmukh2025pica,
  title={PICA: Advanced High-Precision Transport Measurement Automation with Python},
  author={Deshmukh, Prathamesh and Mukherjee, Sudip},
  institution={UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Mumbai Centre},
  year={2025},
  month={December},
  type={Preprint},
  doi={10.5281/zenodo.18377216},
  url={https://prathameshnium.github.io/PICA-Python-Instrument-Control-and-Automation/}
}