Development of Ultra-Low Noise, Wide Bandwidth, High Gain Transimpedance Amplifiers for Experimental and Commercial Detection Systems

Technical Report · Sat Feb 22 00:00:00 EST 2020

OSTI ID:1601111

Demers, Diane R. ^[1]

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1. Xantho Technologies, LLC, Madison, WI (United States)

Many detectors - including solid-state particle detectors, microchannel plates, and photodiodes - output small current signals that require amplification and conversion to a voltage. Transimpedance amplifiers (TIA) are widely utilized in experimental and commercial applications for this task. Numerous detection systems require wide bandwidth, ultra-low noise, high gain, and linear amplification. Yet, TIAs having this combination of features are surprisingly not readily available and many consumers resort to costly and time consuming in-house development. We have developed ultra-low noise, wide bandwidth, and high gain transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs). The basis of the device is a platform having the capacity to be adapted to a range of specifications, enabling custom performance metrics to be fulfilled. The standard Advanced-TIA has a signal bandwidth ≥5 MHz (-3dB), gain ≥ 10⁷ V/A, and equivalent input-noise ~ 1.5 nA (rms) that achieves linear amplification of current ≥1 nA. This was accomplished using an iterative sequence of computer simulated circuit-modeling, circuit board layout and fabrication, component population, and bench testing. Our Advanced-TIA is a platform on which circuit gain and cutoff frequency can be customized by varying capacitor and resistor component values without the need to modify the board layout. Designs have been created to produce overall gains of 5x10⁶ and 1x10⁷ (yet lower gains are also achievable), and bandwidths of 1MHz and 5MHz. The platform also includes a DC offset adjustment option which is of value to a range of scientific R&D applications. These performance characteristics and flexible features are central our Advanced-TIA Platform.

• Research Organization: Xantho Technologies, LLC, Madison, WI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0009502
• OSTI ID: 1601111
• Type / Phase: SBIR (Phase II)
• Report Number(s): DOE-XANTHO-TIA-09502-F
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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42 ENGINEERING
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
amplifier
transimpedance
detector
sensor
current
high gain
low noise
signal
amplification
nA
bandwidth
MHz
current to voltage
science
research and development
R&D