HF2LI Lock-in Amplifier
Our Product Philosophy:
The HF2LI is an advanced digital lock-in amplifier with an extended signal frequency range of 50 MHz. With its 2 physical units, it replaces 2 traditional lock-in amplifiers for measurement setups; its 128-bit processing delivers unprecedented performance. The HF2LI is a technology milestone in both the support of existing applications and in the enabling of the development of many new ones.
HF2LI Key Features
- 2 independent lock-in units
- 1 fundamental and 2 harmonic frequencies per lock-in unit
- 1 µHz - 50 MHz frequency range
- 210 MSample/s, 14 bit A/D conversion
- 5 nV/√Hz input voltage noise
- 1 µs - 500 s time constant
- 6 to 48 dB/oct filter slope (1st to 8th order)
- 4x 1 MSample/s, 16 bit, ±10 V auxiliary analog output
- 2x 400 kSample/s, 16 bit, ±10 V auxiliary analog input
- USB 2.0 high-speed host connection
- Included graphical user interface and driver software: ziControl, ziAPI, ziServer
HF2LI Applications
- Semiconductors & engineering
- Quantum & nano physics
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
- Nuclear physics & electromagnetism
- Solid-state physics & material science
- Sensors & actuators (MEMS)
- Nondestructive material testing
- Med-tech, radiology, and ultrasound
More applications in this section of our website.
All publications using the HF2LI.
HF2LI Available Options
HF2LI-MF Multi-frequency
The multi-frequency option extends your HF2LI by providing the powerful flexibility of choosing the input channel, the oscillator frequency, and the filter coefficients for each demodulator independently. It allows for the simultaneous demodulation of in total 6 arbitrary frequencies.
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HF2LI-MOD AM/FM Modulation
The HF2LI-MOD is an option for the HF2LI and allows for the direct analysis of sidebands in dynamic AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) schemes. This option helps the user to precisely measure period variations in the frequency or the amplitude of the application signal.
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HF2LI-PLL Dual Phase-locked Loop
The HF2LI-PLL provides a dual programmable digital phase-locked loop which enables fast frequency tracking. Zurich Instruments offers the world's fastest digital PLL, with a unique frequency range of up to 50 MHz using direct sampling technology.
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HF2LI-PID Quad PID Controller
The HF2LI-PID option builds on the HF2LI and seamlessly integrates no less than 4 high performance PID (proportional integral derivative) controllers for general purpose. The controllers provide the means the efficiently implement closed loop control on several physical parameters of the HF2LI outputs.
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HF2LI-RT Real-time
The real-time option enables you to implement and execute custom real-time algorithms directly inside the HF2LI. Your programs written in C are supported by a comprehensive library and react to inputs in less than 10 microseconds. This timing behaviour is inherently reproducible and robust.
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HF2LI-UHS Ultra-high Stability
The ultra-high stability option provides an ovenized quartz oscillator for excellent phase noise characteristics. The specifications of this oscillator improve the accuracy of the HF2LI data processing ideal for precision critical applications.
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HF2LI Functional Diagram
HF2LI Specifications
| Lock-in Operating Modes | |
| internal reference mode | single and dual lock-in |
| external reference mode | single and dual lock-in |
| auto reference mode | single and dual lock-in |
| dual-harmonic mode | 1 fundamental + 2 harmonics (simultaneous) |
| multi-harmonic mode | 1 fundamental + 5 harmonics (simultaneous), requires HF2LI-MF |
| arbitrary frequency mode | 6 frequencies, requires HF2LI-MF |
| HF Analog Input | |
| frequency range | 1 µHz - 50 MHz |
| input impedance | 50 Ω or 1 MΩ || 20 pF |
| input voltage noise | 5 nV/√Hz |
| dynamic reserve | 120 dB |
| input range | ±3.5 V |
| input full range sensitivity | 1 nV to 1.5 V |
| A/D conversion | 14 bit, 210 MS/s |
| HF Analog Output | |
| frequency range | DC - 50 MHz |
| output ranges | ±10 mV, ±100 mV, ±1 V, ±10 V |
| signal adder | ±10 V, DC to 50 MHz bandwidth |
| D/A conversion | 16 bit, 210 MS/s |
| Demodulator & Reference | |
| number of demodulators | 6 dual-phase |
| filter time constant | 1 µs - 500 s |
| filter bandwidth | 80 µHz - 220 kHz |
| filter slope | 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 dB/Oct |
| X, Y, R, Theta | 64-bit full range |
| reference frequency resolution | 0.7 µHz |
| reference phase angle resolution | 1.0 µ° |
| Auxiliary Signals | |
| high-speed outputs | 4 channels, ±10 V, amplitude, phase, frequency, X/Y, or user defined |
| D/A converter | 16 bit, 1 MS/s |
| D/A analog bandwidth | 200 kHz |
| high-speed inputs | 2 channels, ±10 V |
| A/D converter | 16 bit, 400 kS/s |
| A/D analog bandwidth | 100 kHz |
| Other Interfaces | |
| host connection | USB 2.0 high-speed, 480 Mbit/s |
| pre-amplifier control bus | ZCtrl proprietary bus to control external pre-amplifiers |
| synchronization bus | ZSync proprietary bus to locally interconnect ZI instruments |
| digital I/O | 32 bit, general purpose |
| General | |
| dimensions | 45 x 28 x 9 cm (19" rack) |
| weight | 6.2 kg |
| power supply | 110/120/220/240 V, 50/60 Hz |
| operating temperature | +5 °C to +40 °C |
| internal oscillator output | sine, ±1 V, 10 MHz |
| internal oscillator stability | 30 ppm, check for ultra-high stability |
| PC operating systems | 32-bit and 64-bit version of Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Linux |