Standard coordinate system

[mooney@aps.anl.gov (Tim Mooney)]

Dear folks,

Should we agree on a standard coordinate system for beamline software?

I've been using the system that seems most common in XFD and ASD documentation:
+Z is the beam direction, +Y is up, and +X is out from the storage ring, making
a right-handed coordinate system, but to my recollection the beamline-controls
collaboration has never actually made a choice.  Now would probably be a good
time to do this, because most of us are far enough along to that it's beginning
to matter.


Also, should we agree on the beam direction assumed in GUI displays?

As most users view their hardware, the beam goes from right to left, yet many people
seem to prefer left to right in graphical displays.  I think relatively few people
care deeply about this, but it is irksome to have some displays going one way and
other displays going the other.



1) What beamline coordinate system does your CAT use?

2) What is the beam direction in your CAT's user displays?


Tim Mooney