HeMan Pro

Ground-breaking new data reduction software for the Alphachron.

Free yourself from the need to calculate results for your turn-key instrument by hand.

NOTE: This software is currently under development. Please forgive some of the wonky visual elements for now, but I have strict rules about not making the software pretty before I am done making it functional. :)

Advanced Exponential Fitting Models

The use of an advanced exponential decay models improves fitting accuracy by capturing the subtle curvature inherent in intensity measurements over time. For noisy data, the toggle buttons on the left allow users to use the bulk average as a fitting model to prevent overfitting.

Automated Blank Correction Interpolations

Automated and extremely flexible blank correction interpolations can dramatically improve the accuracy of results. This becomes critical for ultra-low sample volumes.

Available interpolations are:

Bulk average
Moving average
Linear
Cubic spline

Blanks may also be separated by mineral type for independent blank corrections in sequences containing, e.g., both zircon and apatite.

Blank-level re-extracts may also be added to the blank population to improve the bulk and moving average interpolations as pseudo-hot blanks using the RE as HB feature.

Individual blanks may be excluded or included in the interpolation by clicking on the relevant datum.

Standards are independently blank corrected using bulk averaging.

Improved Negative Data Treatment

Negative intensities, particularly at 4 amu, are a scourge for many users: they are confusing and difficult to interpret. In some cases, negative intensity data can yield a negative 4 amu/3 amu ratio, invalidating the analysis for further calculations.

HeMan Pro has three means of dealing with negative data:

Use of the average baseline correction: A large number of negatives are the result of the cycle-by-cycle baseline correction applied by the Alphachron software, in which the cycle's baseline is higher than the 4 amu intensity. By reversing this baseline correction and using the average of the baseline intensities instead, we eliminate a high number of negative intensities.
Automatically exclude negative data from fitting models: The program may optionally automatically exclude any negative data from the fitting models, reducing the chances of negative ratios.
Bayesian baseline correction: This optional feature completely eliminates negative data. It uses elegant Bayesian statistics to separate the desired signal (counted ions of the desired mass) from the baseline (stray ions and instrumental noise) given the "prior knowledge" that intensity counts must be positive. It effectively answers the question, "What is the most probable positive intensity that could have produced this measurement given the current baseline measurements?"

Complete End-to-End Error Propagation

HeMan Pro yields extremely robust error estimates for final results by accurately propagating errors through the entire calculation pipeline. All sources of errors from the original factory calibrations to errors on individual intensity measurements to the summation of the final volume results are considered.

Robust Quality Control

Two quality control phases are employed to check for outliers:

Spike Depletion: Based on a rough helium-4 beam suppression correction, this technique identifies outliers by identifying helium-3 spike intensities which fail to conform to the overall depletion trend throughout the sequence.
Intensity Consistency: Plotting the consistencies of intensities across the entire sequence, this makes visually identifying outliers simple.

Ultra-Flexible Data Reduction

HeMan Pro's sophisticated data reduction engine adapts to any analytical philosophy or sequence structure through:

Baseline Correction Mastery - Leverage multiple baseline strategies including:

Optional use of PAB (Pre-Analysis Baseline) - Uses mass-specific baseline corrections measured during active pumping before gas introduction.
Linear Baseline Correction - For rare instances where baseline intensities display temporal trends, a linear baseline correction offers improved accuracy.
Bayesian baseline correction - Uses advanced statistics to estimate the 'true' desired intensity for near-baseline measurements, and eliminates all negative intensities.

Adjustable Degassing Threshold - Easily adjust the criteria for considering aliquots sufficiently degassed, between 0.25% to 2.5%.
Multi-Mineral Sequence Support - Native support for mixed-mineral sequences (e.g., zircon and apatite) with independent blank corrections, error propagation, and result compartmentalization.
Different Models for Different Regimes - Adapt the fitting models to your system's behavior. HeMan Pro separates fitting models into Consumption and Ingrowth regimes, representing negative and positive slopes respectively. This allows you to customize the fitting models for your system's behavior.

HeMan Pro is written in Python 3.13 and consists of over 35,000 lines of code.

It will run on Windows 10 or later. For experimental MacOS or Debian executables, contact me directly. HeMan Pro is licensed per-Alphachron system.

HeMan Pro is licensed per Alphachron system, not per PC. Users are welcome to copy the program and license file to any number of personal devices for use.

I am currently working on a trial version which will run for 30 days. It will generate accurate ratios, but not accurate volumes—accurate volume generation requires a paid license.

Automated Cross-Tank Calibrations

Cross-tank calibrations, or x-cals, are at the core of the Alphachron's accuracy. The unique x-cal system ensures that your system's accuracy increases over time by quantifying depletion of the Q tank against a relatively un-depleted reference tank (DT).

Such accuracy, however, requires running and manually implementing new x-cals, a procedure which many users find difficult and/or confusing.

HeMan Pro fully automates the process of adding new cross-tank calibrations. Just run the sequence, reduce the data as you would normally, and the program will guide you to the above X-Cal GUI. Here, you can see and examine your x-cal data in detail.

Upon clicking "Confirm and Save X-Cal", the program adds the new data to the license file, ensuring all data going forward are calculated with the new, more accurate calibrations.

Furthermore, I have identified significant discrepancies between results using Excel versus Python: Excel always returns worse results (lower R^2) given identical datasets when fitting an exponential decay curve. Therefore, the depletion factors calculated by HeMan Pro are always more accurate!