Anapico has developed a portfolio of phase-coherent, ultra-fast switching and very low phase noise multi-channel signal generators to support various applications such as quantum computing (QuBit manipulation and control), radar signal generation, and satellite load testing.
The APMS multi-channel signal generator series offer superior performance in a single unit. They are designed to operate over multiple frequency ranges from 300 kHz to 6, 12, 20, 33 or 40 GHz and deliver an output power from -80 dBm to +25 dBm. The channels can be independently programmed in frequency, phase and amplitude. Pulse modulation capability is included on all units, while amplitude, frequency and phase modulation capability can be added optionally.
They combine excellent phase noise with good spurious and harmonic rejection and a leading-edge switching speed of 25 μs with option FS. A high-stability OCXO reference provides excellent frequency accuracy and stability. Such features make them ideal for a wide range of applications where good signal quality, accurate signal level and wide output power range are required.
The generators accept external reference signals of 10 MHz, 100 MHz (optionally 1 to 250 MHz) and a higher frequency clock of 3 GHz allowing for outstanding phase stability and coherence between channels of different units. Option VREF, extends the external reference capability to accepting 1 MHz to 250 MHz signals.
Phase Coherence
The unique phase coherence switching option adds the following feature:
- Phase-coherent switching – The phase relationship between 2 channels is deterministic
- Phase memory – After a channel switches back to a previous frequency, it behaves as if it had been continuously running at that frequency.
Once two channels are set to the same frequency, they will always have a deterministic relative phase position, i.e., the phase difference remains the same over time. When one of the channels changes frequency, it maintains the constant phase difference once both channels are again at the same frequency. Only the channel which changed frequency exhibits a phase discontinuity.
The APMS generators are available in a standard 19“ 1U enclosure and offer USB and Ethernet control interfaces as well as the optional GPIB interface. Each interface allows for easy and fast communication using the SCPI 1999 command set. Remote control of the instrument can be quickly attained from any host system. A customer-supplied application programming interface (API) and programming examples for Matlab, Labview, C++ and other commercially available tools make test implementation very straightforward.
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