Computer controlled specimen stage goniometer for a nuclear microprobe

Abstract

A computer controlled virtual instrument for a nuclear microprobe specimen stage goniometer is described. This virtual instrument includes many powerful features not previously available on other computer controlled stages. A X-windows interface under the linux operating system provides a virtual instrument control panel on any X-terminal connected to the global net. This allows mouse driven 'point and click' control over four stage motions. In addition, two input channels allow continuous measurement of beam current and detector count rate. Each axis is controlled by a stepper motor which can be configured to step in any unit. The virtual instrument may be reconfigured from an initialisatio..