Lock-in
The lock-in amplifier is the cornerstone of precision measurement. It is the essential tool for extracting a signal with a known carrier wave from an extremely noisy environment. From optical spectroscopy to transport measurements, it allows researchers to recover critical data that would otherwise be buried in the noise floor. However, modern physics is rarely monochromatic. Complex experiments—whether characterizing non-linear devices or reading out sensor arrays—produce signals across a spectrum. Traditional single-frequency lock-ins force researchers to perform slow sequential scans or stack multiple instruments, which limits speed and introduces synchronization errors. The challenge is to extract noisy signals at many frequencies simultaneously without compromising on precision. Our platforms solve this by offering massive parallel processing power. For base band needs, the MLA-3 Multifrequency Lock-in Amplifier measures up to 32 frequencies simultaneously within an 80 MHz bandwidth. For microwave applications, Presto captures 192 frequencies with a massive 1 GHz instantaneous bandwidth, measuring signals up to 10 GHz. In both instruments, it is possible to distinguish signals just 60 mHz apart without leakage. By replacing banks of standard instruments with a single multifrequency core, you achieve faster data acquisition and higher sensitivity. Discover these capabilities in the application notes below.
