DAVE: A Comprehensive Software Suite for the Reduction, Visualization, and Analysis of Low Energy Neutron Spectroscopic Data

TLDR

National neutron research facilities lack a universally accepted software package for reducing, visualizing, and analyzing inelastic neutron scattering data. This paper outlines the development approach, key components, usage, impact, and future directions of the DAVE software suite. DAVE was built using a high-level scientific programming language and incorporates modular components for data reduction, visualization, and analysis. The resulting DAVE package has proven successful and has been widely adopted in the United States and abroad.

Abstract

National user facilities such as the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) require a significant base of software to treat the data produced by their specialized measurement instruments. There is no universally accepted and used data treatment package for the reduction, visualization, and analysis of inelastic neutron scattering data. However, we believe that the software development approach adopted at the NCNR has some key characteristics that have resulted in a successful software package called DAVE (the Data Analysis and Visualization Environment). It is developed using a high level scientific programming language, and it has been widely adopted in the United States and abroad. In this paper we describe the development approach, elements of the DAVE software suite, its usage and impact, and future directions and opportunities for development.