The Zurich Instruments UHFLI is a digital lock-in amplifier that covers the frequency range from DC to 600 MHz. It offers a time constant of 30 ns for demodulation – resulting in a demodulation bandwidth that exceeds 5 MHz. Thanks to the combination of a wide choice of available options and the instrument control software LabOne, the UHFLI is an excellent choice for your experimental needs.
600 MHz Lock-in Amplifier
Key Features
- 600 MHz operation frequency
- 2 independent lock-in units
- 2 high-performance signal generators
- 4 independent harmonics per lock-in unit
- High-resolution 12-bit scope with 65k samples
- Frequency Response Analyzer (FRA)
- FFT Spectrum Analyzer
- LabOne® toolset
Price
Pricing shown is ex-works Zurich and only valid for the selected region
Any questions? Contact us
Contact us for pricing information
- Introduction
- Applications
- Multi-Device Synchronization
- Functional Description
- Specifications
- Q&A
- Resources
- Laser spectroscopy: pump-probe, THz time-domain, ultrafast
- Scanning microscopy: high-speed AFM, SNOM, CARS-SRS
- Industrial production: failure analysis, laser voltage probing and imaging
- Quantum technologies: quantum computing, quantum communication, RF-reflectometry
- Sensing and actuation (MEMS)
- NMR
With multi-device synchronization (MDS) it is possible to operate multiple UHFLIs as a single multi-channel device:
- Operate all instruments from a single LabOne user interface and LabOne API.
- Lock in phase all instrument clocks and oscillators (stable phase relationship).
- Synchronize time stamps and sampling rates for automatic alignment of measurement data.
Read more about MDS here.
The 2 signal inputs and 2 signal outputs effectively provide 2 lock-in amplifiers in one instrument. Each lock-in amplifier unit comprises 4 dual-phase demodulators that simultaneously provide X, Y, R, and Θ.
High-precision signal inputs
The 2 signal inputs of the UHFLI provide excellent noise specifications and operate in single-ended mode. Input coupling can be set to high impedance or 50 Ω for both low-frequency and high-speed applications. For external reference mode and precise triggering on external events, the UHFLI comes with 2 additional input and 2 bidirectional connectors. Dual internal and dual-auto reference modes are also supported.
Signal generators
The UHFLI generates 2 low-distortion sinusoidal outputs ideal for driving the device under test or most modulating devices. The UHF-MF Multi-Frequency option provides 6 additional oscillators and enables the generation of a linear combination of up to 8 sinusoids. Additional connectors on the front panel provide the demodulated amplitude, phase, or quadrature signals, square wave references, or trigger signals for external hardware.
Demodulators and filters
The UHFLI comes with 8 dual-phase demodulators for simultaneous measurement at 4 harmonic frequencies per signal input. Each demodulator has individually configurable filter parameters. The measured amplitude and phase data after demodulation are streamed in real time to the host computer.
Triggers
A reference and trigger network provides high-performance operation: reference input and output work at a bandwidth of 600 MHz, and trigger input and output feature reaction times down to 100 ns. The UHFLI is the first lock-in amplifier with dedicated hardware and software trigger functionalities. Hardware triggers enable quick reaction to physical conditions, whereas software triggers provide an infrastructure to define complex trigger criteria. Triggers are used to output demodulated samples at specific points in time, or to synchronize actions between several functional domains inside the UHFLI.
Arithmetic Unit
The Arithmetic Unit enables fast computation on a collection of measurement data. This processor features addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of all data that are available on the auxiliary outputs. Applications include balanced detection, normalization by a reference, and dual-frequency resonance tracking.
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 |
Triple-harmonic mode | 1 fundamental + 3 harmonics (simultaneous) |
Multi-harmonic mode | 1 fundamental + 7 harmonics (simultaneous), requires UHF-MF option |
Arbitrary frequency mode | 8 frequencies, requires UHF-MF option |
UHF signal inputs
Frequency range | DC - 600 MHz |
Input impedance | 50 Ω or 1 MΩ || 18 pF |
Input voltage noise | 4 nV/√Hz above 100 kHz |
Dynamic reserve | 100 dB |
Input range (AC+DC) | ±3.5 V |
Input full range sensitivity | 1 nV to 1.5 V |
A/D conversion | 12 bits, 1.8 GSa/s |
UHF signal outputs
Frequency range | DC - 600 MHz |
Output ranges | ±150 mV, ±1.5 V (high-impedance load) -12.5 dBm, 7.5 dBm (50 Ω load) |
D/A conversion | 14 bits, 1.8 GSa/s |
Reference and nanosecond triggers
Frequency range | 10 Hz to 600 MHz (external reference) |
Connectors | 2 bidirectional, 2 output, 2 input |
Reference frequency resolution | 6 µHz |
Reference phase angle resolution | 1.0 µ° |
Demodulators
Frequency range | 1 mHz to 600 MHz |
Number of demodulators | 8 dual-phase |
Output sample rate on LAN | 2 MSa/s (total all demodulators), 64-bit full range |
Output sample rate on USB | 100 kSa/s (total all demodulators), 64-bit full range |
Output sample rate on Aux outputs | 28 MSa/s (for each auxiliary output), 16-bit |
Filter time constant | 30 ns - 76 s |
Filter bandwidth | 628 µHz to 5 MHz |
Filter slope | 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 dB/Oct |
Scope
Input channels | Signal inputs, trigger inputs, auxiliary inputs, demodulator oscillator phase, demodulator X/Y/R/Theta, PID, boxcar, AU; certain signals only if options installed |
Scope modes | Time domain, frequency domain (FFT) |
Number of display channels | 1; 2 requires UHF-DIG option |
Trigger channels | Signal inputs, signal outputs, oscillator phases, DIOs |
Trigger modes | Edge |
Sampling rates | 28 kSa/s to 1.8 GSa/s |
Vertical resolution | 12 bits |
Maximum number of samples per shot | 64 kSa; 128 MSa, requires UHF-DIG option |
Bandwidth limit mode, vertical resolution increase | Sample decimation, averaging |
Cursor math | Location, area, wave, peak, tracking, histogram |
Spectrum Analyzer
Center frequency range | 0 - 600 MHz |
Spectrum modes | FFT(X+iY), FFT(R), FFT(Θ), FFT(f) and FFT((dΘ/dt)/2π) |
Statistical options | Amplitude, spectral density, power |
Averaging modes | None, exponential moving average |
Maximum number of samples per spectrum | 8.4 MSa |
Maximum span | 800 kHz |
Window functions | Rectangular, Hann, Hamming, Blackman Harris |
Cursor math | Location, area, wave, peak, tracking, histogram |
Sweeper
Scan parameters | Oscillator frequency, demodulator phase shift, auxiliary offset, signal output amplitudes, signal output offset, PID setpoint, boxcar delay and time; certain parameters only if options installed |
Parameter sweep ranges | Full range, linear and logarithmic |
Parameter sweep resolution | Arbitrary, defined by start/stop value and number of sweep points |
Display parameters | Demodulator output (X, Y, R, Θ, f), auxiliary input |
Display options | Single plot, dual plot (e.g., Bode plot), multi-trace |
Statistical options | Amplitude, spectral density, power |
Preset measurement modes | Parameter sweep, noise amplitude measurement, frequency response analyzer, 3-omega-sweep |
Auxiliary signals
High-speed outputs | 4 channels, ±10 V, R, Θ, X, Y, or user defined |
D/A converter | 16 bits, 28 MSa/s |
D/A analog bandwidth | 7 MHz |
High-speed inputs | 2 channels, ±10 V |
A/D converter | 16 bits, 400 kSa/s |
A/D analog bandwidth | 100 kHz |
Connectivity and others
Host connection | LAN / Ethernet, 1 Gbit/s USB 2.0 high-speed, 480 Mbit/s |
Pre-amplifier control bus | 2 ZCtrl (RJ45 connectors) proprietary peripheral interface |
Digital I/O | 32 bits, 50 MHz, general purpose |
Clock | 10 MHz, input and output, ultra-high stable ovenized oscillator (OCXO) 0.5 ppm deviation (0.00005 ppm with UHF-RUB option) |
General
Dimensions | 45 x 35 x 10 cm 17.7 x 13.6 x 3.9 inch, suited for 19 inch rack |
Weight | 6.4 kg |
Power supply AC line | 100-240 V (±10%), 50/60 Hz |
Operating temperature | +5 °C to +40 °C |
Operating environment | IEC61010, indoor location, installation category II, pollution degree 2 |
Operating altitude | Up to 2000 m |
Signal connectors | BNC on front panel, SMA on back panel |
PC operating systems | See LabOne Compatibility |
UHFLI Q&A
-
Yes. The goal at Zurich Instruments is to reduce complexity by making all functionalities available at the same time. For example: use the UHF-AWG option to generate pulses for electrical pump-probe spectroscopy, and analyze the signals with the boxcar (by enabling the UHF-BOX option) as you control the cantilever with the lock-in functionality and the PLL/PID option.
-
No, because all options are enabled through changes of the firmware on your instrument. Therefore, options can be added by providing a specific activation code. The exception is the UHF-RUB option, as the implementation of an atomic frequency standard requires a rubidium atomic clock to be added to the hardware – hence the instrument needs to be sent back to Zurich Instruments in this case.
-
Yes, the two signal inputs are fully independent. You can either use them as inputs for two detectors in your experiment or use them for different experiments. You may view this capability as that of two lock-in amplifiers in a single casing.
-
No, the UHFLI comes in one hardware configuration with two signal inputs and two signal outputs. For applications that require more channels, multiple UHFLIs can be combined thanks to multi-device synchronisation (MDS).