Ultrastable low-noise current amplifier: a novel device for measuring small electric currents with high accuracy

The Review of Scientific Instruments
D DrungF J Ahlers

Abstract

An ultrastable low-noise current amplifier (ULCA) is presented. The ULCA is a non-cryogenic instrument based on specially designed operational amplifiers and resistor networks. It involves two stages, the first providing a 1000-fold current gain and the second performing a current-to-voltage conversion via an internal 1 MΩ reference resistor or, optionally, an external standard resistor. The ULCA's transfer coefficient is highly stable versus time, temperature, and current amplitude within the full dynamic range of ±5 nA. The low noise level of 2.4 fA/√Hz helps to keep averaging times short at small input currents. A cryogenic current comparator is used to calibrate both input current gain and output transresistance, providing traceability to the quantum Hall effect. Within one week after calibration, the uncertainty contribution from short-term fluctuations and drift of the transresistance is about 0.1 parts per million (ppm). The long-term drift is typically 5 ppm/yr. A high-accuracy variant is available that shows improved stability of the input gain at the expense of a higher noise level of 7.5 fA/√Hz. The ULCA also allows the traceable generation of small electric currents or the calibration of high-ohmic resistors.

References

Jul 5, 2012·Nature Communications·S P GiblinD A Ritchie
Dec 12, 2012·Physical Review Letters·Vyacheslavs Kashcheyevs, Janis Timoshenko
May 3, 2014·The Review of Scientific Instruments·F L Hernandez-MarquezR E Elmquist
Jun 21, 2014·Physical Review Letters·Lukas FrickeHans W Schumacher

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Citations

Nov 3, 2016·The Review of Scientific Instruments·E MykkänenA J Manninen
Nov 9, 2016·Scientific Reports·Tuomo TanttuMikko Möttönen
Sep 24, 2015·Reports on Progress in Physics·Bernd Kaestner, Vyacheslavs Kashcheyevs
Feb 3, 2019·The Review of Scientific Instruments·S P Giblin, G Lorusso
Feb 3, 2019·The Review of Scientific Instruments·C KrauseH Scherer
Mar 3, 2017·The Review of Scientific Instruments·C KrauseH Scherer
Mar 3, 2017·The Review of Scientific Instruments·Kai XieHanlu Zhang
Jun 21, 2020·Applied Radiation and Isotopes : Including Data, Instrumentation and Methods for Use in Agriculture, Industry and Medicine·R FitzgeraldN M Zimmerman
Nov 4, 2020·The Review of Scientific Instruments·Jonathan M WilliamsIvan Rungger
Apr 7, 2021·The Review of Scientific Instruments·D Drung, C Krause

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