Calibrating Your System

Once your system is up and running, you’ll need to perform some calibration to synchronize the characteristics of your system with the AugerMap software. In all cases, you’ll need to have the electron gun turned on before performing calibration.

Calibrating the Size and Magnification

To calibrate the size (and magnification) of your system, you must have be imaging over an area of known size. The best way to do this is with a calibrated grid sample. Once you can see a TV image over the area, click Calibrate Size and Magnification from the System menu. Type the actual width of the image in the Calibrate field, in microns.

Note that you are only calibrating the size, the magnification is a fixed ration based on the size. The magnification value is based on a factor of 100,000 to 1 micron, meaning that a 1um image is considered at 100,000x displayed at 10cm. This is approximate, of course, since the true magnification is dependent on the size of the output device.

The Current Settings can help you determine if you are already calibrated. Also, in the unlikely event that you have previously calibrated incorrectly and cannot get enough range out of the size or mag to get an image, you can click the Reset Calibration button. Clicking this button will cause the factory default calibration to be set. This will probably not be the correct calibration value for your system, but should be close enough to allow you to adjust your image size for later calibration.

Calibrating Beam Current Measurements

If you system supports reading beam current digitally, you will need to calibrate the beam current measurements before the current will accurately be displayed in the scanning control dialog. The procedure for calibrating the beam current is different for every system; for example, you may use an electrometer or a dummy-load box. Consult your system and upgrade documentation for information specific to your system.

Regardless of the procedure used, the beam current calibration dialog is accessed by clicking Calibrate Beam Current from the System menu. Be sure the value you are entering matches the units shown.

Calibrating Ion Current Measurements

If you system supports reading ion current digitally, you will need to calibrate the ion current measurements before the current will accurately be displayed in the scanning control dialog. The procedure for calibrating the ion current is different for every system. Consult your system and upgrade documentation for information specific to your system.

Regardless of the procedure used, the ion current calibration dialog is accessed by clicking Calibrate Ion Current from the System menu. Be sure the value you are entering matches the units shown.

Calibrating Emission Current Measurements

If you system supports reading ion current digitally, you will need to calibrate the emission current measurements before the current will accurately be displayed in the scanning control dialog. The procedure for calibrating is normally simple – after turning the electron gun on, simply enter the value shown on your system’s emission current meter in the emission current dialog. Consult your system and upgrade documentation for more information specific to your system.

The emission current calibration dialog is accessed by clicking Calibrate Emission Current from the System menu. Be sure the value you are entering matches the units shown.

Objective and Condenser Steering

If you system supports objective and condenser steering control, these adjustments can improve your beam current and image quality. These adjustments are done in the Electron Gun Control Scanning dialog. Click here for more information.