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

Area of Science:

• Experimental physics
• Materials science
• Quantum data measurement

Background:

• Photoemission spectroscopy (PES) is a vital technique across multiple scientific disciplines.
• Novice users face significant challenges due to the experiential and time-sensitive nature of PES experiments, especially with synchrotron radiation.
• Existing research on information science in quantum data measurement primarily focuses on analysis, neglecting user experience for inexperienced researchers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and address the specific problems encountered by novice users in photoemission spectroscopy.
• To develop and evaluate a novel application designed to assist inexperienced users in conducting PES experiments.

Main Methods:

• Conducted an interview survey to understand the difficulties faced by novice PES users.
• Designed and implemented a native application, synapse, based on the findings from the interview survey.
• Performed qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the synapse application's effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Successfully identified key challenges faced by novice users in photoemission spectroscopy.
• Developed and implemented the synapse application, offering targeted solutions to these challenges.
• Demonstrated the utility and effectiveness of the synapse application through rigorous evaluation experiments.

Conclusions:

• The synapse application effectively mitigates the problems faced by novice users in photoemission spectroscopy.
• The developed tool enhances accessibility and efficiency for inexperienced researchers using advanced PES techniques.
• This work highlights the importance of user-centric design in scientific instrumentation and software.