Software installation

Current MuonLab software
The software (GUI and terminal controller) is activly maintained on GitLab. It can be downloaded from gitlab.nikhef.nl/muonlab/muonlab. The installation instructions are also on that webpage. Note that an installation of Python is required. For the legacy edition that uses LabView see below.

To perform measurements:
- Connect the USB cable between the Muonlab III signal analyzer box and the computer
- Connect the MuonLab III signal analyzer box to the 220 V mains by means of the 12 V adapter
- Connect the muon scintillation detectors to the analyzer box through BNC and DIN cables
- Start the GUI (or use the terminal controller) using the method described on gitlab.nikhef.nl/muonlab/muonlab.

As a starting value choose a PMT high voltage of 1500 V (max 1700 V) for the R580 PMT. Use between 700 and 800 V for the R6094 PMT (max 1000 V). The value indicated on the interface is only an rough indication, the true value can be measured at the 2mm contact points on the Muon detector by use of a DC voltmeter on scale 0-2 V, which shows the value of the DC voltage applied to the high voltage power socket assembly. The high voltage generated by the power socket is the DC voltage multiplied by a factor 1000.

Signal analyser firmware
The MuonLab analyzer box uses a VHDL firmware program, developed by the electronics department of Nikhef. It contains message protocols for communication with the FPGA hardware of the analyzer box and protocols for directing measurement data. Control and read-out are realized via USB protocols for connection to a computer.

The firmware program is saved in an EPROM in the analyzer box.

Maintenance of the firmware may only be performed by well trained personnel. Updates of the firmware can be made using a protocol described on the Nikhef website, see http://www.nikhef.nl/~hansvk/muonlab3/

Under normal circumstances the detectors and the signal analyzer do not need any special maintenance. In case of trouble please contact hansvk@nikhef.nl

LabView Program (legacy)
An old version of the MuonLab software used LabView. This version is now outdated and should not be used anymore. The software is provided here only for the purpose of archival.

There are 2 versions of the MuonLab software: MuonLab III_v_12.1 and MuonLab III_v_14.2. Both interfaces have been developed as virtual instruments in LabView 2012.

The first version 12.1 contains 6 tabs, in the 14.2 versions an extra tab for pulse height measurement has been added. The programs are available as executables, not needing the original LabView 2012 to be installed on the computer. For running the executable, however, a 'runtime engine installer library' is needed, to be installed on the computer before running the executable.
Download MuonLab III v_12.1 builds.zip
Download MuonLab III v_14.2 builds.zip
Download Install MuonLab III v_14.2 documentation

As an extra, due to the fact that in older types of the instrument the detectors contain Hamamatsu R580 photomultipliers, both programs have a version for a Hamamatsu R580 as well as for the Hamamatsu R6094.