The HDAWG-PC Real-Time Precompensation option ensures that the signal at the device under test matches the one designed on the HDAWG Arbitrary Waveform Generator. Through the principle of inverse filtering, this feature minimizes the effect of imperfections in the signal path. At its heart is a widely configurable digital filter applied in real time before the generated waveform is converted into an analog signal.
Typical use cases for the HDAWG-PC are experiments where the sample is in a cryogenic environment. For these setups, the wiring from the arbitrary waveform generator to the sample introduces several kinds of signal distortion even if meticulously designed. A well-configured precompensation filter ensures excellent performance even in the presence of:
- Signal droop caused by high-pass filters in bias tees and DC blocks.
- Overshoots caused by spurious capacitances in chip bonds and planar circuit designs.
- Undershoots due to spurious inductances.
- Reflections and standing waves due to impedance mismatches.
- Amplifier ringing.