Computer-assisted Spectroscopy

The logical and timing requirements and the control circuitry of spectrometers in all energy ranges, chromatographs, scanning interferometers and microdensitometers, and a large class of related experimental apparati are very similar. From the standpoint of on-line computation and control, they can be considered parametric variations of a single experiment. With a magnetic resonance spectrometer as an example, we describe briefly the central, common elements of the necessary computer-instrument interface and of adequately flexible and open-ended control programs. Some examples of results follow.