SweepMe! is a powerful software platform for scientific and engineering measurements. It can control a wide range of instruments and enables users to create automated measurement sequences efficiently—without requiring any programming experience. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes even complex workflows quick to configure, easy to visualise and simple to adapt to changing experimental requirements.
SweepMe!’s continuously expanding driver library steadily broadens the platform’s range of applications. Drivers for the Lake Shore M81-SSM have recently been added, allowing the system to be integrated seamlessly into the SweepMe! environment.
The Lake Shore M81-SSM is a modular, centrally synchronised source-and-measure system that combines DC and AC signal sources with high-precision measurement capabilities. It is particularly well suited to demanding electrical characterisation tasks, including low-level measurements of very small currents and voltages. The main instrument can control up to three source-and-measure modules simultaneously. A selection of current-source, voltage-source and combined source-measure unit (SMU) modules allows the system to be configured for the specific measurement task.
SweepMe! currently supports current measurements using the CM-10 module and voltage sourcing using the VS-10 module. This combination alone enables a wide range of electrical measurement applications. The following SweepMe! drivers are currently available:
DC and AC current measurement (Logger Lake Shore M81 CM-10)
Lock-in current measurement (LockIn Lake Shore M81 CM-10)
DC and AC voltage source (Switch Lake Shore M81 VS-10)
Using the CM-10 and VS-10 modules simultaneously also enables more advanced measurement techniques:
Combined source-and-measure operation (SMU Lake Shore M81)
Lock-in-based impedance spectroscopy (LCRmeter Lake Shore M81)
A key advantage of the system is the precise synchronisation of source updates and measurement sampling across all channels, ensuring the reliable acquisition of time-correlated data. Its combined DC and AC capabilities cover a broad frequency range extending up to 100 kHz. The modular architecture supports flexible configurations with up to three channels, while the integrated lock-in functionality enables highly sensitive measurements. Low-noise performance is further enhanced by a linear power-supply architecture, fully analogue signal paths and optional external amplifier modules that can be positioned close to the device under test to minimise interference. Another practical benefit is the ability to switch rapidly between AC and DC measurements, as well as between current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) characterisation, without rewiring the setup.

Key features and benefits include:

• Synchronised source updates and measurement sampling across all channels for time-correlated data acquisition
• Combined DC and AC source-and-measure functionality, covering frequencies from very low values up to 100 kHz
• Modular, user-configurable architecture with one to three source-and-measure channels
• Lock-in amplifier (LIA) functionality on the measurement channels
• Low-noise design featuring a linear power-supply architecture, fully analogue signal paths and external amplifier modules to minimise interference
• Seamless switching between AC and DC operation and between I-V and C-V measurements without rewiring

The system is therefore ideally suited to research and development applications, including measurements at cryogenic temperatures and the characterisation of photodetectors, MEMS and semiconductor devices.
SweepMe! originated as a spin-off from Dresden University of Technology and is now used by universities, research centres and companies around the world. We would like to thank the SweepMe! team for the excellent collaboration and look forward to seeing the new applications that users will develop by integrating the M81-SSM into their measurement setups.
 

More about the synchronous source and measure system M81-SSM