Modularity in Software-Hardware Interaction for Experimental Physics

On Thursday 15th May, we celebrated the ‘Young RSE Award’ winners from 2023, 2024 and 2025 with a presentation from each of them on the research topic that won them the award. We welcome the 2023 Award Winner - Yudong Sun. Abstract: Software-hardware interfacing is vital to experimental physics, and is often used to automate data collection and analysis. However, while technologies like Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA) exist, modularity is still not common in homemade software for research. Code written by researchers, despite using the same equipment, often does not get preserved, and generally does not align with the Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) paradigm. Here, we look back at project “nanosquared”, a Python interfacing package that is highly modular and extensively tested for laser M-squared measurements. Such modularity aims to increase code re-usability/longevity and lower barriers-of-entry for software development. The presentation recording is available on the HiRSE YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Helmholtz_Platform_for_RSE/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=3https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY7aP3tgG6E Learn more about the HiRSE Seminar Series: https://www.helmholtz-hirse.de/series.html