When the number of sample contacts becomes very large, or when external instruments deliver many signals to be digitized, 8 input and output channels might simply not be enough. One additional TSC instantaneously doubles that number to 16. For even more complex experiments, a maximum of 3 TSCs can be connected to the Nanonis Tramea™ base configuration, transforming the instrument into a 24 outputs and 24 inputs system. Never before has that number of signals been generated or acquired with similar performance. 

The TSC add-ons are identical to the TSC of the base configuration, meaning no compromise on signal quality. And while increasing the number of channels with conventional systems means adapting the measurement software and potentially changing the workflow, with Nanonis Tramea™ none of this is necessary. The additional TSC signals are seamlessly integrated into the Tramea™ software allowing immediate productivity.

Additional TSCs can be combined with additional TSOs (16-output channels, see below) for an I/O configuration tailored to the experimental needs. The following combinations are possible (sorted by increasing number of outputs):

Complex nanodevices require a large number of gate voltages, and this number is usually much larger than the number of signals to be digitized. While the 8 input channels of the Nanonis Tramea™ base configuration offer sufficient digitizing channels for most applications, 8 output channels might not cover all the requirements for sample driving voltages. One TSO instantaneously adds 16 high precision and low-noise 20-bit outputs to the Nanonis Tramea™ base configuration. For even more complex experiments, a maximum of 2 TSOs can be connected to the Nanonis Tramea™ base configuration, transforming the instrument into a 40 outputs and 8 inputs system. Never before has that number of signals been generated or acquired with similar performance.

TSO add-ons can be combined with TSC add-ons, leading to maxed-out configurations with 40 outputs and 24 inputs or 48 outputs and 16 inputs (see table above).

The TSO analog outputs have identical specifications to the analog outputs of the TSC (with the exception of the 22-bit hrDAC™ mode) meaning no compromise on signal quality. And while increasing the number of channels with conventional systems means adapting the measurement software and potentially changing the workflow, with Nanonis Tramea™ none of this is necessary. The additional TSO signals are seamlessly integrated into the Nanonis Tramea™ software allowing immediate productivity. All TSO channels can be accessed by the lock-in and function generator modules.

The Nanonis MCVA5 differential multichannel preamplifier provides low-noise amplification, very high input impedance, high common-mode rejection, gain up to 1000, and differential inputs at a moderate cost. It can be used standalone or as a frontend to a Nanonis TSC or SC5.

The instrument offers 4 independent differential channels. It is powered and remote-controlled from a Nanonis Tramea Quantum Transport Measurement System or a Nanonis Mimea SPM Control System, or alternatively over a USB interface from any PC.

The 4 differential inputs offer an input impedance greater than 10 TΩ to GND and very low input bias currents of less than 2 pA (typ.). They can be operated in either A-B (differential) or A (single-ended) mode or left floating, and they can be DC- or AC-coupled. The amplification circuit has user-selectable gains of 1, 10, 100 and 1000 and a bandwidth in excess of 500 kHz. Despite the very high input impedance spectral noise is as low as 4 nV/√Hz (SE, gain 100/1000)

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The lock-modules let you modulate and demodulate any of the input and output signals of Nanonis Tramea™ with a frequency up to 40 kHz while using the high resolution and high precision 20-bit outputs. With the multi-frequency option a single module can demodulate up to 8 harmonics of the same signal or independent input signals. Up to 8 lock-in detector modules can be used independently from each other when the generation of multiple frequencies is required. The advantage of an internal lock-in detector over an external device is 

• Higher resolution and dynamic range
• Multifrequency and multi-input operation
• Over 120 dB linearity
• Over 100 dB dynamic reserve
• No need for gain and attenuation switching
• Steeper filters (up to 8. order) 
• Up to 8 independent modules
• Synchronization with data acquisition when using Sync filtering
• Integration avoids errors due to insufficient settling time with slow filter responses 
• No additional noise source through external cabling and no need for a forest of TEEs and cables to hop the same signal from lockin to lockin
• No potential grounding problems
• Flexible and simple setup
• Guided filter set-up utility
• Ability to turn on and off the excitation through software during the experiment

Applications range from regular transport measurements to multi-terminal Hall measurements, multifrequency measurements, simultaneous data acquisition with different time constants, dI/dV, inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS), measurements of open and closed loop transfer functions and every type of phase sensitive measurements.

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Time-resolved measurements are of key importance when dynamic processes need to be understood. Yet, for processes taking place in µs to ms timeframes, the typical oscilloscopes used for this purpose lack the combination of dynamic range, resolution and noise performance, and due to the lack of integration with data acquisition, triggering can be cumbersome. The high-resolution oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer module overcomes these limitations thanks to the precise and low-noise 18-bit inputs of the TSC and the tight integration into the Nanonis software. For precise analysis in the frequency domain, the 500’000 points FFT ideally complements the oscilloscope and transforms the module into a full-featured signal analyzer. 

• 4 traces with individual scaling
• Up to 1 million points per trace (user selectable), 1 MS/s sampling rate, 100 kHz analog bandwidth
• Measurement time from 32 us to 17 minutes, variable oversampling up to 1024x
• No need for input range adjustments: 18-bit resolution at 1 MS/s (22-bit at 1 kS/s) and lowest-noise input stage
• No data loss thanks to pre-triggering. Triggering available both on analog signals and digital lines
• 500’000-point FFT for precise frequency determination and noise analysis

Competitive advantage in research is often based on the modification of an instrument that allows the researcher to perform experiments in a way nobody else has done before. Just using an instrument that everybody else already has is not enough. This is where our Programming Interface steps in - to give you the building blocks to design your own experiment and to automate repetitive tasks and increase efficiency.

The Programming Interface offers more functions and a simpler approach to programming for inexperienced users compared to the TCP interface which is delivered as a standard API with the base configuration. It also contains ready-made examples which can be used as is or as a starting point for custom routines.

• Simple to learn - all functions available through the LabVIEW function palette
• Fully integrated - directly develop in the LabVIEW programming environment
• Unlimited in scope - not just a set of predefined commands

Old systems require TTL handshakes and difficult to debug trigger electronics to communicate with external equipment - now you can directly talk to the hardware, read back full data sets from other instruments and integrate them directly with the Tramea control system. Requires LabVIEW 8.2 or higher.

When speed and precise timing matter, measurement routines just can’t be fast enough. With a time-deterministic approach and 50 µs time interval between commands, scripting significantly boosts execution speed and reduces measurement time.

The module is seamlessly integrated into standard measurement modules: Scripts can easily be called from other modules, and custom functions or predefined measurements can be started from within a script. The scripting module is not intended as a replacement of the Nanonis Programming Interface, but as a complementary module: It allows 100x faster execution speed while the Programming Interface offers more flexibility.

• Fast and precise: Up to 20’000 commands/s executed on a real-time system
• Seamless integration with standard modules and programming interface
• For-loops for automated measurement routines
• If-commands for conditional execution and real-time feedback
• Data acquisition options for customized measurements

Just upload any custom waveform, and generate periodic patterns with a frequency between 500 mHz and 15 kHz by using the high precision and low-noise 20-bit outputs. In addition to the 8 low noise, high precision outputs, each TSC has one additional output with a higher bandwidth. The uploaded waveform can also be sent to this high speed output to open up a wider variety of measurement possibilities.

• Arbitrary, user defined waveforms based on custom lookup tables
• Suitable for pulsed-gate measurements, pattern-based measurements, etc.
• Waveform duration from 2 s (0.5 Hz) to 67 us (15 kHz)
• 2 synchronized waveforms on different outputs
• 20-bit waveform resolution, 16-bit amplitude and frequency scaling
• 1 MS/s sampling rate
• 500 kHz analog bandwidth on TSC fast output, 40 kHz analog bandwidth on normal outputs

The PI controller modules add a flexible control loop functionality to the Nanonis Tramea software. They can be used as general feedback modules for adjusting gate voltages in order to keep an input signal at a given setpoint, for adjusting the lock-in amplitude to keep a predetermined potential across a sample, as temperature controllers, or for distance control.

• Controls on any input or internal signal
• Feedback signal can be applied on any output or internal signal
• If-then mode for two-state control
• DC or AC (lock-in) mode for  temperature measurements, etc.
• 6 kHz control bandwidth
• Voltage limits for feedback signal
• Up to 8 modules available