The problem of surface-analytical data exchange for multi-method analysis has to be solved in order to use data from a number of different surface analytical instruments [such as Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), scanning Auger microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy, etc.] in a synergistic manner. As only a standardized data exchange format can guarantee the independence of proprietary measurement systems without adaptation of existing software, the public domain software package called the management and exchange of method independent data (MAXMIND), was developed based on the hierarchical data format. A first key feature of MAXMIND is the strict separation of the software design and the development of data dictionaries (sets of parameters for various methods); thus data dictionaries can be modified without recompiling the software. The data dictionaries included in the present version of MAXMIND are in the case of AES and XPS based on published guides.12345 Dictionaries for other methods have been set up by the authors and are to be considered as preliminary. Besides a graphical user interface based on the X11 interface, a second key feature is that interfaces have been made from MAXMIND to the “matrix laboratory” (MATLAB) and a processing package from Khoral Research, Inc. (KHOROS), which are both well-known data analysis environments in the surface analysis and image processing community. Using one of these interfaces, a combination of either MATLAB or KHOROS in conjunction with MAXMIND forms an integrated data storage and evaluation environment.
The solution of the problem of interchangeability of surface analytical data is gaining increasing importance in multi-method surface analysis. There are various surface analytical instruments in different laboratories on several automation levels. For these instruments, which are controlled by computer systems working with proprietary software under various operating systems, a standardised data format is necessary to allow an exchange of data. Therefore, a toolkit has been developed for the transfer, archiving and editing of surface analytical data in a standardised public domain format. This format contains all available and necessary information on experimental conditions and all parameters specific for a number of analytical techniques such as AES, SAM, XPS, SIMS, STM, AFM and EPMA. Additionally, all data concerning the conditions of sample-preparation and measurement history are included in order to allow a well-founded evaluation of the data and improved reproducibility of the experiment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.