SNSPD Update

I have been working with Boris in Maria Spiropulu's lab to learn and develop some of the ground work to characterizing and achieving the dark noise levels needed on the SNSPD's for GQUEST. Thus far, I have been working on the development of a new base of python libraries for interfacing with the new frame controllers packed with a laser, attenuators, switches, and a power meter, all used for taking measurements of laser power amplitudes and characterizing the SNSPD's. Today I have finalized the code library for controlling the Yokogawa AQ2212 frame controller as well as the GRID TLS Laser Module, attenuator modules, OSW switch module, and power sensor module over ethernet. This library has been compiled in python and I have successfully completed testing on my overall control of the system today. The tests I have run so far have been to first completely setup all appropriate parameters (via the python commands over ethernet) such as: laser wavelength (1550 nm), laser power (10mW), attenuator attenuation (30dB), attenuator wavelength (1550nm), switch routing (between on board power meter and a separate Thorlabs PM100D, and finally reading the power meter in single bursts or continuously. There also exists controls for turning on and off the laser output and each individual attenuator output. The test initiated all of these subsystems successfully, took 10 data points from the power meter and averaged them, swapped the output to the Thorlabs power meter, then turned the system off and disconnected from the device without issue. The results can be seen in the attached images. Average power (on board) 6.02 pW, Thorlabs reading average 6.04 pW The next steps will be to carry over this code in an implementation of Andrew Mullers code to perform characterization tests on the SNSPD's. I will follow his workflow for performing the experiment, and we will then carry out a test using my updated code for the new equipment and compare it to a new test using the previous code and older equipment. This will be done sometime next week. Lastly, I will be creating a gitlab project to store all code I develop and manuals necessary for understanding and performing the experiments we do on the SNSPD's. image 1 - current setup image 2 - readings from the yokogawa frame controller during test image 3 - readings from the thorlabs power meter during test image 4: It should also be noted, that the Laser trigger control must be shorted for the Yokogawa frame controller to allow the unlocking of the laser output control