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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
06:43
Writing and Low-Temperature Characterization of Oxide Nanostructures
Published on: July 18, 2014
Switchable wiring for high-resolution electronic measurements at very low temperatures
C Schirm1, H-F Pernau, E Scheer
1Department of Physics, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|March 5, 2009
Summary
A new wiring scheme uses a low-temperature latching relay to effectively filter high-frequency noise for sensitive low-temperature transport measurements. This method achieves high voltage and current resolution, enabling detailed analysis of superconducting point contacts.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Low-Temperature Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- High-frequency noise impedes low-temperature transport measurements requiring high energy resolution.
- Standard RC filters generate heat due to high DC resistance, limiting measurements with high currents or voltages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an effective wiring scheme for filtering high-frequency input in low-temperature measurements.
- To improve measurement resolution and enable high current/voltage experiments at low temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of a commercial latching relay at very low temperatures within the wiring scheme.
- Utilizing two sets of wires: one with a voltage divider and high-Ohmic reference resistance, the other with low DC resistance.
- Employing robust, compact filters for effective gigahertz frequency damping on both wire sets.
Main Results:
- Achieved a voltage resolution of 6 microV and a current resolution of 100 pA with the first wire set.
- Enabled currents up to 1 mA and voltages up to 20 V with the second wire set for electromigration experiments at 1 K.
- Demonstrated effective damping at gigahertz frequencies.
Conclusions:
- The developed wiring scheme significantly enhances low-temperature transport measurements.
- The scheme provides versatile applications for studying phenomena in superconducting point contacts and other low-temperature experiments.
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