The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) is the world's first x-ray free electron laser. It is a scientific user facility operated by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, at Stanford, for the U.S. Department of Energy. As beam time at LCLS is extremely valuable and limited, experimental efficiency -- getting the most high quality data in the least time -- is critical. Our overall project employs cognitive engineering methodologies with the goal of improving experimental efficiency and increasing scientific productivity at LCLS by refining experimental interfaces and workflows, simplifying tasks, reducing errors, and improving operator safety and stress. Here we describe a multi-agent, multi-scale computational cognitive interaction model of instrument operations at LCLS. Our model simulates aspects of human cognition at multiple cognitive and temporal scales, ranging from seconds to hours, and among agents playing multiple roles, including instrument operator, real time data analyst, and experiment manager. The model can roughly predict impacts stemming from proposed changes to operational interfaces and workflows. Example results demonstrate the model's potential in guiding modifications to improve operational efficiency. We discuss the implications of our effort for cognitive engineering in complex experimental settings, and outline future directions for research. The model is open source and supplementary videos provide extensive detail.

翻译：直线加速器相干光源（LCLS）是世界上第一台X射线自由电子激光器。它是由SLAC国家加速器实验室为美国能源部在斯坦福大学运营的科学用户装置。由于LCLS的束流时间极为宝贵且有限，实验效率——即在最短时间内获取最多高质量数据——至关重要。我们的整体项目采用认知工程方法，旨在通过改进实验界面与工作流程、简化任务、减少错误以及提升操作员安全与压力管理，来提高LCLS的实验效率与科学产出。本文描述了一个针对LCLS仪器操作的多智能体、多尺度计算认知交互模型。该模型在从秒到小时的多重认知与时间尺度上，模拟了扮演不同角色（包括仪器操作员、实时数据分析师和实验管理员）的智能体之间的人类认知特征。该模型能够大致预测因操作界面和工作流程的拟议变更所产生的影响。示例结果展示了该模型在指导改进操作效率方面的潜力。我们讨论了此项工作对复杂实验环境中认知工程的意义，并概述了未来的研究方向。该模型为开源项目，补充视频提供了详尽细节。