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iXon Ultra

Product catalog summary

Introduction
This document serves as a comprehensive guide for the iXon Ultra camera control and analysis software, Solis, by Andor Technology. It includes detailed instructions on software functionalities such as starting the application, pre-acquisition settings, data acquisition, and file handling.

Section 1: Using the iXon Ultra
This section provides guidance on starting the application and navigating the main window, including the use of hot keys for efficient operation and shortcuts for data acquisition and window navigation.

Section 2: Pre-Acquisition
Focuses on setting the camera's temperature to reduce noise and improve accuracy. It covers controlling the cooling fan speed and setting up acquisition modes, including OptAcquire for optimizing camera performance.

Section 3: Acquiring Data
Details the acquisition process, data type selection, and various acquisition modes such as single scan, video, and kinetic series. It also covers count conversion, noise filtering, and triggering modes.

Section 4: Displaying Data
Explains data display options in 2D and 3D modes, including zooming, scrolling, and axis setup. It discusses image display settings, contrast adjustments, and region of interest (ROI) management.

Section 5: Handling Files
Covers file handling, including saving and exporting data in formats like ASCII, JPEG, and TIFF, and program selection for data processing.

Section 6: Spectral Calibration
Introduces spectral calibration, including manual and spectrograph-based X-calibration, with guidance on applying and troubleshooting calibration settings.

Section 7: Working with Programs
Details using Andor Basic programming language for custom scripts and automation, including instructions on using the program editor and accessing help.

Camera Configuration Modes
Describes various modes such as Speed, Time Lapse, EMCCD Highest Dynamic Range, and Photon Counting, each optimized for specific conditions and requirements.

Initial Data Acquisition
Explains starting acquisition via button, F5 key, or menu, storing data in RAM or Hard Disk, and aborting acquisition.

Data Type Selection
Details selecting data types like Signal, Background, and Reference, with specific calculations and requirements for certain data types.

Acquisition Modes & Timings
Describes modes like Single Scan, Video, Accumulate, and Kinetic Series, with parameters like Exposure Time and Kinetic Cycle Time.

Count Convert Functionality
Allows data acquisition in electrons or photons, maintaining original data integrity, with conversion involving factors like Quantum Efficiency and wavelength input.

Spurious Noise Filter
Helps eliminate background noise using advanced algorithms, applicable in real-time or post-processing.

Cropped Sensor Mode
Allows faster temporal resolution by defining a sub-array within the full sensor area.

Triggering Modes
Includes Internal, External, Fast External, and others, depending on system and acquisition parameters.

Readout Modes
Includes Image, Multi-Track, and Full Vertical Binning (FVB), each with specific functionalities.

Photon Counting
Enhances signal-to-noise ratio by counting single photons per pixel, suitable for very weak signals.

Shutter Control
Details shutter modes like Fully Auto, Permanently Open, and Permanently Closed, with recommendations for rapid Kinetic Series measurements.

File Information
Provides details on acquisition selection, including filename, date, software version, detector temperature, and more.

Spooling
Allows spooling acquisition data directly to the PC's hard disk, beneficial for handling large data sets.

Virtual Memory
Speeds up data retrieval and allows for larger data sets by buffering data on the PC's hard drive.

Auto-Save
Automatically saves acquisition files to prevent data loss, with options for stem name and auto-increment.

Display Modes
Data can be displayed in 2D, 3D, or Image modes, with options for calibration and customization of display axes.

Zooming and Scrolling
Provides buttons for zooming and allows for scrolling by sliding the scale, with a reset function available.

2D Display Mode
Allows for peak searching, labeling, and overlaying multiple traces for comparison.

3D Display Mode
Data from imaging or kinetic series can be viewed on a 3D axis, with manipulation options.

Image Display Mode
Data acquired in imaging mode can be viewed as images, with options for aspect ratios and contrast adjustments.

Handling Files
Includes options to open, save, and export files in various formats, with specific characteristics for each format.

Spectral Calibration
Offers various calibration options, including manual X-Calibration and spectrograph-based calibration.

Glossary Highlights
Defines key terms related to EMCCD technology, such as Accumulation, Readout Noise, and Quantum Efficiency.

Noise Components in CCDs
Discusses readout noise, shot noise, and total pixel noise, with methods to minimize noise.

Quantum Efficiency/Spectral Response
Explains Quantum Efficiency and spectral response, with factors affecting them.

Readout Process
Describes the process of amplifying pixel charge into a voltage, converting it to digital, and storing it in memory.

Catalog excerpts

Software Guide Solis Andor’s camera control and analysis software platform iXon Ultra andor.com

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iXon Ultra Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: USING THE iXon Ultra MAIN WINDOW Main Window Status Bar SETTING TEMPERATURE SETUP ACQUISITION OptAcquire preset modes OptAcquire create user-defined modes SECTION 3: ACQUIRING DATA INITIAL ACQUISITION DATA TYPE SELECTION Definitions of data types ACQUISITION TYPES Autoscale Acquisition Take Background Take Reference Acquisition errors

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iXon Ultra Table of Contents ACQUISITION MODES & TIMINGS Single scan Kinetic Series COUNT CONVERT Count Convert dialogs SPURIOUS NOISE FILTER CROPPED SENSOR MODE TRIGGERING MODES READOUT MODES Image mode Video mode Image orientation Vertical Pixel Shift 3.9.4.2 Vertical Clock Amplitude Voltage Horizontal Pixel Shift 3.9.5.3 Output Amplifier Selection

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iXon Ultra Table of Contents 3.9.5.4 - EM Gain Amplifier Multi-track mode Full Vertical Binning Photon Counting in real time Photon Counting by post-processing Shutter Transfer Time Accumulate Cycle Time & No. of Accumulations Kinetic Series & Kinetic Cycle Lengths Fast Kinetics 3.12.4.1 Readout Mode & Fast Kinetics Virtual Memory SECTION 4: DISPLAYING DATA DISPLAY MODES DISPLAY PREFERENCES AXIS DEFINITIONS AXIS SETUP

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iXon Ultra Table of Contents 62 2D display mode preferences 4.7.1.1.1 Peak Search Sensitivity 4.7.1.2.1 Labels on Peaks or Troughs 4.7.1.2.2 Maximum Number of Labelled Peaks 4.7.1.3.1 Label Peaks in all Overlaid Spectra 2D with Peak Labelling 2D with Chemical Labels Baseline Correction

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iXon Ultra Table of Contents 3D DISPLAY MODE 3D display mode preferences IMAGE DISPLAY MODE Image display mode preferences 4.9.1.1 Always maintain aspect ratio 4.9.1.2 Show 2D cross sections High & Low Contrast Overview 4.9.3.1 Increasing & Decreasing Contrast Brightness Overview Live Update Maximum Scans Plot Series

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iXon Ultra Table of Contents SECTION 5: HANDLING FILES MENU OPTIONS Configuration files PROGRAM SELECTION SECTION 6: SPECTRAL CALIBRATION INTRODUCTION TO SPECTRAL CALIBRATION MANUAL X-CALIBRATION Applying Calibration When Manual X-Calibration goes wrong

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iXon Ultra Table of Contents 6.3 Setup Spectrograph 6.3.2.3 X-Axis Labels & Units Center Wavelength / Center of Raman Shift 6.3.3.1 Note on Raman Shift Rayleigh Wavelength Micrometer Setting Processing Data via the Command Line

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iXon Ultra Table of Contents SECTION 7: WORKING WITH PROGRAMS Working with Andor Basic programs Program Editor Window Accessing the Edit functions 7.1.2.1 Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo 7.1.2.6 Entering Program input

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iXon Ultra Table of Contents GLOSSARY EMCCD READOUT SEQUENCE Dark Signal Detection Limit Exposure Time Frame Transfer Pixel Noise Readout Noise Fixed Pattern Noise Quantum Efficiency/Spectral Response Scans (Keep Clean & Acquired) Shift Register Shot Noise Signal To Noise Ratio

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iXon Ultra Using the iXon Ultra SECTION 1: USING THE iXon Ultra 1.1 - STARTING THE APPLICATION On the desktop, click on the appears briefly: icon which was installed during the installation process and the Solis Splash Screen The Main Window then appears, e.g.:

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iXon Ultra Using the iXon Ultra 1.2 - MAIN WINDOW The Main Window is your “entry point” to the system. The menu options that you select from either ‘execute functions directly’, or ‘launch further windows/dialog boxes’ that let you select the functionality you require. Some menu options on the Main Window are also represented as easy-to-use radio buttons, as shown in the table below. Table 1: Main Window buttons NOTE: Some menu titles and buttons appear on the Main Window only under certain circumstances as shown on the next page.

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iXon Ultra Using the iXon Ultra The Display menu and its associated buttons will not appear until you open a Data Window, e.g.: The Edit & Search menus and their associated buttons appear only when a Program Editor Window is active, e.g.: 1.2.1 - Main Window Status Bar The following information is displayed on the bottom line of the display: • Current temperature status (see pages 15 - 16 for further information) Autoscale acquisition status (see page 26 for further information) Sub-Image (see page 37 for further information) Acquisition mode (see pages 27 - 29 for further information) Data type...

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iXon Ultra Using the iXon Ultra 1.3 - HOT KEYS Hot keys (or shortcuts) as shown in tables 2, 3 & 4 which follow, enable you to work with the system directly from the keyboard, rather than via the mouse. Table 2: Data Acquisition Hot Keys Key stroke(s) Take signal Autoscale Acquisition Take background Take reference Abort Acquisition Table 3: Data Window Hot Keys DISPLAY MODE KEY STROKES Expand (‘Stretch’) data-axis Contract (‘Shrink’) data-axis If maintain aspect ratio off, expand x-axis. If maintain aspect ratio on, expand x-axis and y-axis If maintain aspect ratio off, contract x-axis. If maintain...

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iXon Ultra Using the iXon Ultra Table 4: Andor Basic Programming Language Hot Keys Key stroke(s) Abort acquisition / program Command line Context sensitive help on reserved words in the Andor Basic programming language is available if you are using the Program Editor Window.

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iXon Ultra Pre-acquisition SECTION 2 - PRE-ACQUISITION 2.1 - SETTING TEMPERATURE For accurate readings, the EMCCD should first be cooled, as this will help reduce dark signal and associated shot noise. To do this, either select the Temperature option from the Hardware drop-down menu on the Main Window: button in the bottom-left of the screen. This will open up the Temperature dialog box : Select the On radio button in the Cooler area. The Degrees (C) field in the Temperature Setting section will now be highlighted in blue and the Cooler will be indicated as On, e.g.: To adjust the temperature,...

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iXon Ultra Pre-acquisition 2.1.1 - Fan control The speed of the cooling fan can also be controlled. Select Fan Control from the Hardware drop-down menu as shown: The Fan speed dialog box will appear: Select the speed you require as necessary (this may affect the cooling ability of the EMCCD). NOTE: After changing from High to Low, it may be necessary for the camera temp to stabilize before acquiring data. However for optimum performance it is recommended to leave the fan setting at High.

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iXon Ultra

iXon Ultra

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