Download Analyst User Manual

1. Introduction
Analyst is a Windows based program designed to allow you to view, edit and analyse luminescence
data collected using a Risø automated TL/OSL reader. It offers a range of facilities, including
equivalent dose determination. Additionally, since it is impossible for any analytical program to
cater for every possibility it allows you to export the data in a variety of formats so that it can be
transferred to other programs, including spreadsheets.
The basic file structure used by Analyst is the BINX file. This program has been designed to
operate in conjunction with the Sequence Editor programme supplied by Risø for running the
latest generation of automated TL/OSL readers. Older version of this software created BIN files,
and these are compatible for this version of Analyst, but not all of the features described here are
available with BIN files.
A detailed description of the format of this file type is given in Appendix A. The important point to
note at this stage is that by using this data format each luminescence measurement is stored in a
‘record’ that contains not only the numerical data from the luminescence measurement itself, but a
wide range of additional information as well. This information can be grouped into three categories:
sample characteristics, measurement conditions, and analytical data. Some of this information is
automatically placed into the record when it is recorded by the TL/OSL system, some is set only
if the user chooses to set it by using the ‘Run Information’ box in the Sequence Editor, while other
parameters can only be set during processing. Analyst allows you to view, edit and use all of these
parameters.
1.1 What's new
A number of new features have been added to version 4.31 of Analyst:
a) Online help
A manual and online help system have now been implemented for Analyst. While running Analyst
context sensitive help can be obtained by pressing F1 at any time.
b) Ability to alter the appearance of graphs
All graphs in Analyst now offer the option to be able to change their appearance. This may include
changing the scales of any axes, the font size of captions, whether to plot data on linear or
logarithmic axes etc. In addition, there are now more options available for exporting data from
graphs to other packages for further analysis.
c) Analysis of fading data
Measurement of g-values to characterise the anomalous fading of luminescence signals is now
supported by Analyst. This is supported by the Sequence Editor that now automatically stores the
time between irradiation and luminescence measurement.
d) Display of multiple luminescence data on the same graph
Analyst routinely shows data for an individual luminescence measurement, but sometimes it is
useful to be able to plot the data from a series of measurements on the same graph. This has
always been possible using the Viewer programme supplied by Risø but a similar functionality
has now been included in Analyst. It is possible to have as many of these graphs open as the
user wishes, so it is possible to compare data from different aliquots, or after different treatments
simultaneously.
e) Sequence Display
As well as viewing the BINX file in the conventional way, it is now possible to see the original
sequence that was used to collect the luminescence data, and use this to select or deselect data
for analysis.
Analyst User Manual- 1. Introduction
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