See also
An IPython notebook version of this tutorial can be downloaded here:
Advanced sequencing
In this tutorial we will demonstrate advanced sequencer based operations, where we focus on waveform parametrization (see section Sequencer). We will demonstrate this by creating a sequence that will show various sequencer features, including complex looping constructs, dynamic gain control, hardware-based modulation and marker output control.
The sequence itself will use four waveform envelopes with a duration of 1μs each; a gaussian, a sine, a sawtooth and a block. We will have several nested loops in the sequence. The first loop will increase the wait period between the start of the iteration and playback of the waveform envelope and also increase the gain of the waveform envelope on every iteration. At the end of this loop a second loop will do the inverse operations. A third loop will loop over the first and second loops to iterate over the four waveform envelopes. And finally a fourth loop will function as an infinite loop over the third loop. At the same time, the sequence will also control marker output 1 and create a trigger point at the start of each iteration of the first and second loops as well an “enable” during playback. Finally, each waveform envelope will be modulated at 10MHz.
The result of this sequence, when observed on an oscilloscope, will be iterating waveform envelopes that will be sliding over the modulation frequency with varying gain, encapsulated by an “enable” on the marker output. We highly recommend that you take a look at it, to get an impression of what is possible with the sequencers.
Setup
First, we are going to import the required packages and connect to the instrument.
[1]:
#Set up the environment.
import scipy.signal
import math
import json
import matplotlib.pyplot
import numpy
from qblox_instruments import Pulsar
#Close any existing connections to any Pulsar.
Pulsar.close_all()
#Connect to the Pulsar at default IP address.
pulsar = Pulsar("pulsar", "192.168.0.2")
#Reset the instrument for good measure.
pulsar.reset()
print("Status:")
print(pulsar.get_system_state())
Status:
SystemState(status=<SystemStatus.OKAY: 2>, flags=[])
Generate waveforms
Next, we need to create the gaussian, sine, sawtooth and block waveform envelopes for the sequence.
[2]:
#Waveform parameters
waveform_length = 1000 #nanoseconds
#Waveform dictionary (data will hold the samples and index will be used to select the waveforms in the instrument).
waveforms = {
"gaussian": {"data": scipy.signal.gaussian(waveform_length, std=0.12 * waveform_length).tolist(), "index": 0},
"sine": {"data": [math.sin((2 * math.pi / waveform_length) * i ) for i in range(0, waveform_length)], "index": 1},
"sawtooth": {"data": [(1.0 / (waveform_length)) * i for i in range(0, waveform_length)], "index": 2},
"block": {"data": [1.0 for i in range(0, waveform_length)], "index": 3}
}
Let’s plot the waveforms to see what we have created.
[3]:
time = numpy.arange(0, max(map(lambda d: len(d["data"]), waveforms.values())), 1)
fig, ax = matplotlib.pyplot.subplots(1,1, figsize=(10, 10/1.61))
for wf, d in waveforms.items():
ax.plot(time[:len(d["data"])], d["data"], ".-", linewidth=0.5, label=wf)
ax.legend(loc=4)
ax.yaxis.grid()
ax.xaxis.grid()
ax.set_ylabel("Waveform primitive amplitude")
ax.set_xlabel("Time (ns)")
matplotlib.pyplot.draw()
matplotlib.pyplot.show()
Create Q1ASM program
Now that we have the waveforms for the sequence, we need a Q1ASM program that sequences the waveforms as previously described.
[4]:
#Sequence program.
seq_prog = """
wait_sync 4 #Wait for synchronization
reset_ph #Reset absolute phase
upd_param 4 #Update all parameters and wait 4ns
start: move 4,R0 #Init number of waveforms
move 0,R1 #Init waveform index
mult_wave_loop: move 166,R2 #Init number of single wave loops (increasing wait)
move 166,R3 #Init number of single wave loops (decreasing wait)
move 24,R4 #Init number of dynamic wait time (total of 4us)
move 3976,R5 #Init number of dynamic wait time remainder
move 32768,R6 #Init gain (Maximum gain)
sngl_wave_loop_0: move 800,R7 #Init number of long wait loops (total of 40ms)
set_mrk 15 #Set marker to 0xF
upd_param 4 #Update all parameters and wait 4ns
set_mrk 0 #Set marker to 0
upd_param 96 #Update all parameters and wait 96ns
wait R4 #Dynamic wait
add R4,24,R4 #Increase wait
set_mrk 1 #Set marker to 1
play R1,R1,996 #Play waveform and wait 996ns
set_mrk 0 #Set marker to 0
upd_param 4 #Update all parameters and wait for 4ns
wait R5 #Compensate previous dynamic wait
sub R5,24,R5 #Decrease wait
sub R6,98,R6 #Decrease gain
nop
set_awg_gain R6,R6 #Set gain
long_wait_loop_0: wait 50000 #Wait 50 us
loop R7,@long_wait_loop_0 #Wait total of 40ms
loop R2,@sngl_wave_loop_0 #Repeat single wave loop
sngl_wave_loop_1: move 800,R7 #Init number of long wait loops (total of 40ms)
set_mrk 15 #Set marker to 0xF
upd_param 8 #Update all parameters and wait 8ns
set_mrk 0 #Set marker to 0
upd_param 92 #Update all parameters and wait 92ns
wait R4 #Dynamic wait
sub R4,24,R4 #Decrease wait
set_mrk 1 #Set marker to 1
play R1,R1,996 #Play waveform and wait 996ns
set_mrk 0 #Set marker to 0
upd_param 4 #Update all parameters and wait 4ns
wait R5 #Compensate previous dynamic wait
add R5,24,R5 #Increase wait
sub R6,98,R6 #Decrease gain
nop
set_awg_gain R6,R6 #Set gain
long_wait_loop_1: wait 50000 #Wait for 50 us
loop R7,@long_wait_loop_1 #Wait total of 40ms
loop R3,@sngl_wave_loop_1 #Repeat single wave loop
add R1,1,R1 #Adjust waveform index
loop R0,@mult_wave_loop #Repeat with next waveform envelope
jmp @start #Repeat entire sequence
"""
Upload sequence
Now that we have the waveforms and Q1ASM program, we can combine them in a sequence stored in a JSON file.
[5]:
#Add sequence to single dictionary and write to JSON file.
seqeunce = {"waveforms": waveforms, "weights": {}, "acquisitions": {}, "program": seq_prog}
with open("sequence.json", 'w', encoding='utf-8') as file:
json.dump(seqeunce, file, indent=4)
file.close()
Let’s write the JSON file to the instruments. We will use sequencer 0 and 1, which will drive outputs \(\text{O}^{[1-2]}\) and \(\text{O}^{[3-4]}\) respectively.
[6]:
#Upload sequence.
pulsar.sequencer0.sequence("sequence.json")
pulsar.sequencer1.sequence("sequence.json")
Play sequence
The sequence has been uploaded to the instrument. Now we need to configure the sequencers in the instrument to use the wait_sync instruction at the start of the Q1ASM program to synchronize and to enable the hardware-based modulation at 10MHz.
[7]:
#Configure the sequencers to synchronize and enable modulation at 10MHz.
pulsar.sequencer0.sync_en(True)
pulsar.sequencer0.mod_en_awg(True)
pulsar.sequencer0.nco_freq(10e6)
pulsar.sequencer1.sync_en(True)
pulsar.sequencer1.mod_en_awg(True)
pulsar.sequencer1.nco_freq(10e6)
#Map sequencers to specific outputs (but first disable all sequencer connections).
for sequencer in pulsar.sequencers:
for out in range(0, 4):
if hasattr(sequencer, "channel_map_path{}_out{}_en".format(out%2, out)):
sequencer.set("channel_map_path{}_out{}_en".format(out%2, out), False)
#If it is a QRM, we only map sequencer 0 to the outputs.
pulsar.sequencer0.channel_map_path0_out0_en(True)
pulsar.sequencer0.channel_map_path1_out1_en(True)
if pulsar.is_qcm_type:
pulsar.sequencer1.channel_map_path0_out2_en(True)
pulsar.sequencer1.channel_map_path1_out3_en(True)
Now let’s start the sequence. If you want to observe the sequence, this is the time to connect an oscilloscope to marker output 1 and one or more of the four outputs. Configure the oscilloscope to trigger on marker output 1.
[8]:
#Arm and start sequencers.
pulsar.arm_sequencer(0)
pulsar.arm_sequencer(1)
pulsar.start_sequencer()
#Print status of sequencers.
print("Status:")
print(pulsar.get_sequencer_state(0))
print(pulsar.get_sequencer_state(1))
Status:
SequencerState(status=<SequencerStatus.RUNNING: 3>, flags=[])
SequencerState(status=<SequencerStatus.RUNNING: 3>, flags=[])
Before we continue, have you looked at the oscilloscope? Pretty nifty right? This is just an example. Imagine what else you can do with the power of the sequencers to control and/or speed up your experiments.
Stop
Finally, let’s stop the sequencers if they haven’t already and close the instrument connection.
[9]:
#Stop both sequencers.
pulsar.stop_sequencer()
#Print status of both sequencers (should now say it is stopped).
print("Status:")
print(pulsar.get_sequencer_state(0))
print(pulsar.get_sequencer_state(1))
print()
#Print an overview of the instrument parameters.
print("Snapshot:")
pulsar.print_readable_snapshot(update=True)
#Close the instrument connection.
pulsar.close()
Status:
SequencerState(status=<SequencerStatus.STOPPED: 5>, flags=[<SequencerStatusFlags.FORCED_STOP: 2>])
SequencerState(status=<SequencerStatus.STOPPED: 5>, flags=[<SequencerStatusFlags.FORCED_STOP: 2>])
Snapshot:
pulsar:
parameter value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IDN : {'manufacturer': 'qblox', 'model': 'pulsar_qr...
in0_gain : -6 (dB)
in1_gain : -6 (dB)
out0_offset : 0 (V)
out1_offset : 0 (V)
reference_source : internal
scope_acq_avg_mode_en_path0 : False
scope_acq_avg_mode_en_path1 : False
scope_acq_sequencer_select : 0
scope_acq_trigger_level_path0 : 0
scope_acq_trigger_level_path1 : 0
scope_acq_trigger_mode_path0 : sequencer
scope_acq_trigger_mode_path1 : sequencer
pulsar_sequencer0:
parameter value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
channel_map_path0_out0_en : True
channel_map_path1_out1_en : True
cont_mode_en_awg_path0 : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path1 : False
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path0 : 0
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path1 : 0
demod_en_acq : False
discretization_threshold_acq : 0
gain_awg_path0 : 1
gain_awg_path1 : 1
integration_length_acq : 1024
marker_ovr_en : False
marker_ovr_value : 0
mixer_corr_gain_ratio : 1
mixer_corr_phase_offset_degree : -0
mod_en_awg : True
nco_freq : 1e+07 (Hz)
nco_phase_offs : 0 (Degrees)
offset_awg_path0 : 0
offset_awg_path1 : 0
phase_rotation_acq : 0 (Degrees)
sequence : sequence.json
sync_en : True
upsample_rate_awg_path0 : 0
upsample_rate_awg_path1 : 0
pulsar_sequencer1:
parameter value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
channel_map_path0_out0_en : False
channel_map_path1_out1_en : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path0 : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path1 : False
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path0 : 0
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path1 : 0
demod_en_acq : False
discretization_threshold_acq : 0
gain_awg_path0 : 1
gain_awg_path1 : 1
integration_length_acq : 1024
marker_ovr_en : False
marker_ovr_value : 0
mixer_corr_gain_ratio : 1
mixer_corr_phase_offset_degree : -0
mod_en_awg : True
nco_freq : 1e+07 (Hz)
nco_phase_offs : 0 (Degrees)
offset_awg_path0 : 0
offset_awg_path1 : 0
phase_rotation_acq : 0 (Degrees)
sequence : sequence.json
sync_en : True
upsample_rate_awg_path0 : 0
upsample_rate_awg_path1 : 0
pulsar_sequencer2:
parameter value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
channel_map_path0_out0_en : False
channel_map_path1_out1_en : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path0 : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path1 : False
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path0 : 0
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path1 : 0
demod_en_acq : False
discretization_threshold_acq : 0
gain_awg_path0 : 1
gain_awg_path1 : 1
integration_length_acq : 1024
marker_ovr_en : False
marker_ovr_value : 0
mixer_corr_gain_ratio : 1
mixer_corr_phase_offset_degree : -0
mod_en_awg : False
nco_freq : 0 (Hz)
nco_phase_offs : 0 (Degrees)
offset_awg_path0 : 0
offset_awg_path1 : 0
phase_rotation_acq : 0 (Degrees)
sequence : None
sync_en : False
upsample_rate_awg_path0 : 0
upsample_rate_awg_path1 : 0
pulsar_sequencer3:
parameter value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
channel_map_path0_out0_en : False
channel_map_path1_out1_en : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path0 : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path1 : False
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path0 : 0
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path1 : 0
demod_en_acq : False
discretization_threshold_acq : 0
gain_awg_path0 : 1
gain_awg_path1 : 1
integration_length_acq : 1024
marker_ovr_en : False
marker_ovr_value : 0
mixer_corr_gain_ratio : 1
mixer_corr_phase_offset_degree : -0
mod_en_awg : False
nco_freq : 0 (Hz)
nco_phase_offs : 0 (Degrees)
offset_awg_path0 : 0
offset_awg_path1 : 0
phase_rotation_acq : 0 (Degrees)
sequence : None
sync_en : False
upsample_rate_awg_path0 : 0
upsample_rate_awg_path1 : 0
pulsar_sequencer4:
parameter value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
channel_map_path0_out0_en : False
channel_map_path1_out1_en : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path0 : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path1 : False
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path0 : 0
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path1 : 0
demod_en_acq : False
discretization_threshold_acq : 0
gain_awg_path0 : 1
gain_awg_path1 : 1
integration_length_acq : 1024
marker_ovr_en : False
marker_ovr_value : 0
mixer_corr_gain_ratio : 1
mixer_corr_phase_offset_degree : -0
mod_en_awg : False
nco_freq : 0 (Hz)
nco_phase_offs : 0 (Degrees)
offset_awg_path0 : 0
offset_awg_path1 : 0
phase_rotation_acq : 0 (Degrees)
sequence : None
sync_en : False
upsample_rate_awg_path0 : 0
upsample_rate_awg_path1 : 0
pulsar_sequencer5:
parameter value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
channel_map_path0_out0_en : False
channel_map_path1_out1_en : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path0 : False
cont_mode_en_awg_path1 : False
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path0 : 0
cont_mode_waveform_idx_awg_path1 : 0
demod_en_acq : False
discretization_threshold_acq : 0
gain_awg_path0 : 1
gain_awg_path1 : 1
integration_length_acq : 1024
marker_ovr_en : False
marker_ovr_value : 0
mixer_corr_gain_ratio : 1
mixer_corr_phase_offset_degree : -0
mod_en_awg : False
nco_freq : 0 (Hz)
nco_phase_offs : 0 (Degrees)
offset_awg_path0 : 0
offset_awg_path1 : 0
phase_rotation_acq : 0 (Degrees)
sequence : None
sync_en : False
upsample_rate_awg_path0 : 0
upsample_rate_awg_path1 : 0