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Title: Logarithmic Electrometer

Abstract

This report describes the development and design details of an instrument that measures current in the range 10-6 to 10-13 a. and indicates or records this current on a single logarithmic scale. It is frequently desirable to measure a wide range of low current values without range switching. Since no instrument with such characteristics is commercially available, this study was made to determine whether or not the Beckman Model V Micromicroammeter could be modified to provide a logarithmic response. The feasibility of operating this instrument over six decades of input current has been demonstrated. As many as seven decades can be accommodated if a slight non-linearity in the lowest decade is tolerable. This non-linearity is insignificant in most applications. Fewer decades with increased readability and precision can also be obtained.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (US)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
780114
Report Number(s):
DPEX-R30
Contract AT(07-2)-1; TRN: AH200120%%51
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 19 Apr 2001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; DESIGN; ELECTROMETERS; ELECTRIC CURRENTS; POWER RANGE; OPERATION

Citation Formats

Morris, J.M. Logarithmic Electrometer. United States: N. p., 2001. Web. doi:10.2172/780114.
Morris, J.M. Logarithmic Electrometer. United States. doi:10.2172/780114.
Morris, J.M. Thu . "Logarithmic Electrometer". United States. doi:10.2172/780114. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/780114.
@article{osti_780114,
title = {Logarithmic Electrometer},
author = {Morris, J.M.},
abstractNote = {This report describes the development and design details of an instrument that measures current in the range 10-6 to 10-13 a. and indicates or records this current on a single logarithmic scale. It is frequently desirable to measure a wide range of low current values without range switching. Since no instrument with such characteristics is commercially available, this study was made to determine whether or not the Beckman Model V Micromicroammeter could be modified to provide a logarithmic response. The feasibility of operating this instrument over six decades of input current has been demonstrated. As many as seven decades can be accommodated if a slight non-linearity in the lowest decade is tolerable. This non-linearity is insignificant in most applications. Fewer decades with increased readability and precision can also be obtained.},
doi = {10.2172/780114},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2001},
month = {Thu Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2001}
}

Technical Report:

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