Features

Scitec Instruments Model 410 is a single phase analogue lock-in amplifier. It is suitable for making amplitude and phase measurements.

	Single phase instrument
	Differential or single-ended input
	Gain settings from 3 µV to 1 V
	10 Hz to 100 kHz
	High performance wide bandwidth input gain stage
	Analogue meter for display of output signals
	Output offset controls
	Output time constants from 100 µs to 30 s
	1F and 2F reference signal operation
	90° step and fine phase control

Lock-in amplifiers are used to measure the amplitude and phase of small AC signals in the presence of much larger noise levels. They are widely used to recover small optical signals such as those encountered in spectroscopy and studies of fluorescence and luminescence. However, they also have applications in many other fields including electronics and cryogenics where they can be used in component characterisation, bridge networks and to measure the resistance of superconductors.

The output from a lock-in amplifier is a DC voltage proportional to the amplitude of the input signal but with the noise removed. It is also a function of the relative phase difference between the input signal and the associated reference signal. This property allows lock-in amplifiers to be used for measuring the phase properties of the input signal as well.

Scitec Instruments lock-in amplifiers are available as both single phase and dual phase instruments. Single phase lock-in amplifiers have a single demodulator and can be used to make both amplitude and phase measurements. However a manual set-up procedure is required both initially and following any phase change of the output signal. Dual phase lock-in amplifiers have two demodulators which operate with a 90° phase separation. In-phase and out-of-phase components are measured simultaneously which simplifies the process of making amplitude and phase measurements. In addition the Model 420 has circuitry for calculating the vector magnitude from the output of the two demodulators. Both the Model 410 and Model 420 instruments can be used to make measurements of the input signal at both the first and second harmonic of the reference signal.

A key figure of merit used for lock-in amplifiers is dynamic reserve. The dynamic reserve of a lock-in amplifier is defined as the ratio of the noise to signal that is allowed before saturation occurs. The dynamic reserve for the Model 410 is 60dB, allowing an input signal buried in noise 1000 times larger to be recovered.

Specifications

Input Signal Channel

The input signal channel amplifies the input signal to a level suitable for the demodulator. High performance, low-noise, broad-band amplifiers are used throughout. The input circuitry can accept a differential or single-ended input via the front panel signal input BNC.

	Input: High or low impedance differential or single ended via front panel BNC
	Sensitivity: 3 µV to 1 V (for 1 V output) switched in 1, 3, 10 steps
	Input Impedance: 10¹²W//1 nF, dc coupled
	Frequency: 10 Hz to 100 kHz
	Maximum Inputs: ±16 V before input protection circuitry comes into operation. The input BNC has been tested for electrostatic discharge damage
	Input Noise Voltage: Other lock-in amplifier manufacturers give input noise values but without providing any definition of this specification. Indeed there is no meaningful definition of this specification in relation to lock-in amplifiers. As such, Scitec Instruments does not provide noise values and other manufacturers data sheets are considered misleading. Further details about input noise are available on request
	Gain Accuracy: 1%
	Gain Stability: 200 ppm/°C
	Dynamic Reserve: 60 dB limited by a maximum signal input noise voltage of 10 V

Demodulator

The output of the signal input stage is processed using a very high bandwidth demodulator to recover the input signal.

Low Pass Filter

The output from the demodulator is passed through a first order low pass filter and then amplified before output via a front panel BNC.

	Time Constant: 100 µs to 30 s in 1, 3, 10 steps
	Output: +/-1 V output corresponds to full scale input. Short circuit protection included
	Offset: Up to 1x full scale, switchable on or off

Reference Channel

	Frequency: 10 Hz to 100 kHz
	Input Impedance: 5.6 M ac coupled
	Trigger: Sine - 100 mV rms min (15 V max.) Pulse - 5 V, mark to space ratio in the range 20:1 to 1:20.
	Acquisition Time: 10 s max.
	Phase Control: 90° steps + fine shift in range 0° - 100°
	Phase Drift: 0.1°/°C

General

	Power: 115 Vac, 230 Vac; 50-60 Hz; 10 VA max.
	Mechanical: 440(W) x 87(H) x 190(D) mm
	Temperature range: 0-50°C
	Warranty: 2 years from date of shipment

Standards

	Electrostatic Discharge: BS EN 61000-4-2 Level 2
	Surge: BS EN 61000-4-5 Level 3
	Burst & Transient: BS EN 61000-4-4 Level 2
	RF Emissions: BS EN 50081-2
	RF Immunity: BS EN 61000-4-3 / BS EN 50082-2
	Low Voltage Directive: BS EN 61010-1

Ordering Information