Instrumentation and Control for Quantum Technology Research
Introduction:
iQUANTROL-1.0 is an Instrumentation and Control Unit to be used in Laboratory Setups for Quantum Technology Research and Development. This unit provides a host computer based GUI Application to configure different Instrumentation and Control parameters required by the Laboratory Setup. It has a high performance electronics platform interfaced over ethernet with the host PC to perform real time functions such as high speed signal generation, high speed signal sampling/acquisition, signal processing for signal features estimation, control loops implementation through embedded software and diagnostics/log reports.
A unique feature of iQUANTROL-1.0 design is an internal phase locking capability which can genlock the entire unit’s operation with an external 10MHz stable clock. This feature can be very crucial in Quantum Technology Research Setups as typically these setups have multiple sub-systems working independently but needing tight time synchronization.
Embedded software in iQUANTROL-1.0 units can be developed either using VHDL on FPGA Fabric or using high level language “C” on the ARM cores available in the platform electronics. The unit is supplied with basic embedded software for core functions such as sine wave(s) synthesis, Digital Down Conversion (DDC), basic PID Control Loops, data transfer between electronics platform and the host PC etc. Users can build their own Instrumentation and Control applications around Quantum Technology Research Setups using these core functions.
Typical Applications:
- Precision Instrumentation (Frequency, Amplitude measurements, Lock-In Amplifiers),
- Electro-Optic Control units (Photo-Diode sampling, optic modulator excitation etc.),
- Arbitrary Waveform Generator with multiple waveforms having complex modulations,
- Atom Trapping Experiments,
- Spectrometry and Pulse Sequence Generation for MRI Machines,
- Timing and Control Signal Generator.
Specifications:
| No. | Parameter | Requirement Specification |
| 1 | Processor Device | Multiple ARM Cores with FPGA Fabric (SoC) |
| 2 | Analog Input Channels | Up to 8 |
| 3 | Analog Input Channels ADC | 16bit, 500MHz Analog BW, 300MSPS |
| 4 | Full Scale Analog Input Signal | 0dBm |
| 5 | Analog Output Channels | 4 |
| 6 | Analog Output Channels DAC | 16bit, 250MHz Analog BW, 500MSPS update rate |
| 7 | Full Scale Analog Output Signal | 0dBm |
| 8 | Analog Input/Output Impedance | 50 Ohm |
| 9 | Precision Control Analog Outputs | 4 Channels, 20 bit resolution, 1MSPS Update, +/- 5V Diff FS |
| 10 | Processor Memory | 2GB SDRAM, 32MB QSPI FLASH |
| 11 | GPIO | 32 Nominal |
| 12 | Data Communication Interfaces | Ethernet (2) at 1 Gbps, USB-2.0 (1), SPI (4) |
| 13 | Function Cores | Digital tuning with NCO, Digital Down Conversion (DDC), Digital Filtering, Modulation/Demodulation, Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS), Synchronous Timing Generation, Arbitrary Waveform Generation, PID Control, Protocol based data transfer over Ethernet |
| 14 | Operating Temperature | 0 deg C to +55 deg C |
| 15 | Power Supply | 12-36VDC, 15W Maximum |
| 16 | Certification Standard | IEC61010 (Electrical Safety) |
iQUANTROL-1.0 Block Diagram:
Ordering Information:
Application Case Study: Electro-Optic Controller (Example: Locking Frequency Comb and Optical Cavity)
Application Case Study: Arbitrary Waveform and Timing-Control Signal Generator (AWTCSG)
Application Case Study: Lock-In Amplifier (LIA)
