SuperCycle in Spectral Aquisition

SuperCycle is a special state of data acquisition that allows to repeat data acquisition in one of modes given number of times without operator intervention. SuperCycle is especially useful for reversible kinetics measurements that are too fast to record spectra of sufficient quality from a single measurement.

Structure

SuperCycle is a loop of repeated acquisitions alternated by delay time. Activating SuperCycle does nothing other than creating a new document and waiting for the operator to initiate one of acquisition cycles. When first acquisition cycle is activated, SuperCycle remembers selection and repeats it number of times. Every acquisition in SuperCycle is followed by a delay before a new document is created and next acquisition is started.

Time

SuperCycle does not track time. Definition of time dimension and duration of experiment is set by the first acquisition. Subsequent acquisitions are identical.

SuperCycle can be interrupted, which will allow current acquisition to proceed to completion, unless it is, in turn, interrupted.

Parameters

Number of repeats and delay time between cycles are the only two parameters explicitly controlled by the SuperCycle tab. All other parameters are set by tabs applicable to a particular Acquisition mode. Total duration parameter of continuous acquisition modes is the only exception that can be adjusted “on the fly”.  If the desired total duration of each acquisition is not known, it is possible to set duration of the first acquisition to unlimited (negative) time and change it to a finite value during first acquisition. Subsequent acquisitions through SuperCycle will inherit this value. 

Dynamic parameters of acquisition cycle (such as exposure or cycle duration) will retain their initial values through SuperCycle. In the future it may be possible change such parameters gradually in the SuperCycle.

Hardware

Hardware requirements are defined by chosen Acquisition mode.

Data flow

SuperCycle requires one of data producing acquisition modes, i.e. mode that streams acquired data in to a document. Such modes as Monitor or Timer will not initiate SuperCycle.

Data flow within specific acquisition cycle is not altered by the SuperCycle. Between acquisitions, however, SuperCycle automatically creates a new blank document before each cycle, including first cycle. Therefore, it is not necessary to create a blank document manually if SuperCycle is to be used.

Notes