Beamline Alignment Software BOSS (Beamline Operation Scheduling Software) for structural biology beamlines at SPring-8

Abstract

In synchrotron radiation experiments, precise beamline alignment is essential for optimal conditions and high-quality data. However, this process can be complex and time-consuming. To address this, we developed the Beamline Operation Scheduling Software (BOSS), specifically designed for synchrotron radiation facilities. BOSS schedules and executes processes such as beam alignment, axis scanning based on beam intensity, and instrument positioning. It communicates with control servers using various protocols, including raw sockets, web sockets, HTTP requests, SSH, and serial connections. Users can flexibly edit the parameters and sequence of each process through a graphical interface without modifying the source code. This flexibility allows for easy customization to suit different beamlines or handle urgent issues, making BOSS an effective tool for software prototyping. BOSS has automated many beam alignment processes, reducing the required time by approximately half. It supports external execution of tuning tasks via RESTful API and is also used for temporary tuning, device control in plate diffraction measurements, and beam tuning during automated measurements with ZOO.