Arbitrary digital pulse sequence generator with delay-loop timing.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Electronics
• Instrumentation

Background:

• Precise timing control is crucial for advanced physics experiments.
• Existing digital sequence generators may lack flexibility or sufficient temporal resolution.
• The need for programmable, high-resolution timing solutions is growing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and implement a multi-channel arbitrary digital sequence generator.
• To achieve high temporal granularity and precise delay control.
• To demonstrate the generator's applicability in various physics measurement setups.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a 32-channel generator using a low-cost ARM microcontroller.
• Utilizing a two-clock cycle temporal granularity for delay generation.
• Optional synchronization with an external clock for reduced jitter.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated temporal delays from nanoseconds to hundreds of seconds.
• Achieved 24 ns timing granularity with linear delay scaling.
• Exhibited 100 ps jitter and high sequence repeatability when synchronized.

Conclusions:

• The developed generator offers a flexible and precise solution for controlling physics experiments.
• Its design is adaptable to various microcontrollers and applications.
• It provides a cost-effective method for generating complex digital sequences with high temporal accuracy.