MFLI
Lock-in Amplifier
Zurich
Instruments
DC to 500 kHz and
DC to 5 MHz
Product Specification
Release date: January 2016
Key Features
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DC - 500 kHz / 5 MHz, 60 MSa/s, 16 bit
Current and differential voltage inputs
LabOne® Toolset: Scope, Sweeper, Spectrum
Plug & Play with embedded LabOne® Web Server
USB 2.0 and 1 GbE high-speed connections
AC line and DC supply (battery) operation
Upgradeable in the field with options
Summary
The MFLI Lock-in Amplifier uses the latest hardware and
software technologies to bring the benefits of high performance digital signal processing to lock-in amplifiers
at low and medium frequencies. Incorporating Zurich
Instruments’ unique LabOne control software, you can
now experience the usability previously only available
with our higher frequency products.
Covering the frequency ranges DC to 500 kHz or DC to 5
MHz, the instrument can be upgraded in the field when
the users' requirements change. Therefore it is possible
to extend the frequency range from 500 kHz to 5 MHz.
Other available product options are the MF-MD
Multi-demodulator and the MF-DIG Digitizer.
the digitization of current values. At the output the MFLI
can generate a low-distortion sinusoidal differential signal of up to 10 V, capable of driving a device under test.
Demodulators and Oscillators
One dual-phase demodulator with exceptionally large
numerical depth ensures high-performance with 120 dB
of dynamic reserve. Demodulated samples are streamed
in real time to the host computer and available on the
auxiliary output connectors with full signal bandwidth.
With the MF-MD option 3 additional demodulators and
oscillators are provided, allowing measurement at several harmonics or arbitrary frequencies and the generation of a superposition for simultaneous excitation.
LabOne - All in One
The differential voltage and current inputs of the MFLI
are optimized for low noise operation down to very low
frequencies and the high oversampling ensures even better signal to noise ratio.
Every instrument features the LabOne toolset including
an integrated oscilloscope, a spectrum analyzer, a plotter
and a parameter sweeper. With LabOne the computer is
the cockpit for instrument control, data capture, analysis
and storage. A graphical representation of the lock-in
amplifier provides and overview of the settings and signal
processing, and saving measurement data is a one-click
process in the user interface.
When the MF-MD option is installed both current and
voltage can be measured simultaneously facilitating e.g.
4-terminal measurements. Signal acquisition can be
enhanced with the MF-DIG option, for example enabling
Thanks to the embedded web server, only a browser is
required to run the MFLI. For easy integration into existing control environments, programing interfaces for LabVIEW, MATLAB, C and Python are provided.
Description
Signal Inputs and Outputs
Specifications
Table 4. Demodulators & Reference
number of demodulators 1 dual-phase (4 with MF-MD)
number of oscillators
1 (4 with MF-MD option)
output sample rate
1 GbE: up to 200 kSa/s
Aux outputs: 612 kSa/s
time constant
330 ns to 83 s
measurement bandwidth 276 μHz to 206 kHz
filter slope (dB/Oct)
6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48
phase resolution
10 μdeg
frequency resolution
1 μHz
28.3 x 23.2 x 10.2 cm
11.1x 9.2 x 4.0 inch
3.8 kg, 8.4 lbs
AC: 90-240 V; DC: 12 V / 2 A
weight
power supply
Table 2. Signal Inputs (voltage and current)
frequency range
DC - 500 kHz
DC - 5 MHz (with MF-F5M)
input impedance
50 Ω or 10 MΩ || 27 pF
input voltage noise
2.5 nV/√Hz (> 1 kHz)
input current noise
20 fA/√Hz (> 100 Hz)
input ranges (voltage)
1 mV to 3 V (8 steps)
dynamic reserve
up to 120 dB
input full range sensitivity 1 nV to 3 V
A/D conversion
16 bit, 60 MSa/s
Table 3. Signal Output
frequency range
output ranges
D/A conversion
DC - 500 kHz / 5 MHz
±10 mV, 100 mV, 1 V, 10 V
16 bit, 60 MSa/s
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Table 5. Auxiliary & Others
auxiliary outputs
4 channels, ±10 V, for X, Y, R,
ϴ, manual output
auxiliary inputs
2 channels, ±10 V, 15 MSa/s,
signal adder for Output
connectivity
Ethernet, 1 GbE
USB 2.0, 480 MBit/s
USB 2.0 Host (dual)
clock
10 MHz input and output
digital I/O
4 x 8 bit, bidirectional
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Table 1. General
dimensions
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Zurich Instruments
Technoparkstrasse 1
CH-8005 Zurich
Switzerland
About Zurich Instruments
Zurich Instruments makes lock-in amplifiers, phase-locked loops, and impedance spectroscopes that have
revolutionized instrumentation in the medium-frequency (MF) to ultra-high-frequency (UHF) ranges by
combining frequency-domain tools and time-domain tools within each product. This reduces the complexity of
laboratory setups, removes sources of problems and provides new measurement approaches that support the
progress of research.
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Email
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Disclaimer
The contents of this document are provided by Zurich Instruments, 'as is'. ZI makes no representations nor
warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this publication and reserves the
right to make changes to the specification at any time without notice. All trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
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info@zhinst.com
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