An integrated device with high performance multi-function generators and time-to-digital convertors

Abstract

A highly integrated, high performance, and re-configurable device, which is designed for the Nitrogen-Vacancy (N-V) center based quantum applications, is reported. The digital compartment of the device is fully implemented in a Field-Programmable-Gate-Array (FPGA). The digital compartment is designed to manage the multi-function digital waveform generation and the time-to-digital convertors. The device provides two arbitrary-waveform-generator channels which operate at a 1 Gsps sampling rate with a maximum bandwidth of 500 MHz. There are twelve pulse channels integrated in the device with a 50 ps time resolution in both duration and delay. The pulse channels operate with the 3.3 V transistor-transistor logic. The FPGA-based time-to-digital convertor provides a 23-ps time measurement precision. A data accumulation module, which can record the input count rate and the distributions of the time measurement, is also available. A digital-to-analog convertor board is implemented as the analog compartment, which converts the digital waveforms to analog signals with 500 MHz lowpass filters. All the input and output channels of the device are equipped with 50 Ω SubMiniature version A termination. The hardware design is modularized thus it can be easily upgraded with compatible components. The device is suitable to be applied in the quantum technologies based on the N-V centers, as well as in other quantum solid state systems, such as quantum dots, phosphorus doped in silicon, and defect spins in silicon carbide.