WIFIP: a web-based user interface for automated synchrotron beamlines

Finback: a web-based data collection system at SSRF biological macromolecular crystallography beamlines

An integrated computer software system for macromolecular crystallography (MX) data collection at the BL02U1 and BL10U2 beamlines of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility is described. The system, Finback, implements a set of features designed for the automated MX beamlines, and is marked with a user-friendly web-based graphical user interface (GUI) for interactive data collection. The Finback client GUI can run on modern browsers and has been developed using several modern web technologies including WebSocket, WebGL, WebWorker and WebAssembly. Finback supports multiple concurrent sessions, so on-site and remote users can access the beamline simultaneously. Finback also cooperates with the deployed experimental data and information management system, the relevant experimental parameters and results are automatically deposited to a database.

synapse: interactive support on photoemission spectroscopy measurement and analysis for non-expert users

Photoemission spectroscopy, an experimental method based on the photoelectric effect, is now an indispensable technique used in various fields such as materials science, life science, medicine and nanotechnology. However, part of the experimental process of photoemission spectroscopy relies on experience and intuition, which is obviously a problem for novice users. In particular, photoemission spectroscopy experiments using high-brilliance synchrotron radiation as a light source are not easy for novice users because measurements must be performed quickly and accurately as scheduled within a limited experimental period. In addition, research on the application of information science methods to quantum data measurement, such as photoemission spectroscopy, is mainly aimed at the development of analysis methods, and few attempts have been made to clarify the problems faced by users who lack experience. In this study, the problems faced by novice users of photoemission spectroscopy are identified, and a native application named synapse with functions to solve these problems is implemented and evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. This paper describes the contents of an interview survey, the functional design and the implementation of the application synapse based on the interview survey, and results and discussion of the evaluation experiment.