Femtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperatures

Calibration of ultralow current ammeters deployed in atmospheric ion counters requires stable current references operating at high source impedance. Using standard precision components, this current reference generates equal bipolar currents of nominally ±500fA, cyclically for 32 s each. The current...

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Main Authors: Harrison, R, Aplin, K
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2000
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author Harrison, R
Aplin, K
author_facet Harrison, R
Aplin, K
author_sort Harrison, R
collection OXFORD
description Calibration of ultralow current ammeters deployed in atmospheric ion counters requires stable current references operating at high source impedance. Using standard precision components, this current reference generates equal bipolar currents of nominally ±500fA, cyclically for 32 s each. The currents were found to be stable to 2 fA over the temperature range - 20 to 20°C, typical of atmospheric conditions. The output current is delivered via a capacitor, and by arranging for the capacitor to be guarded at ground potential when the system is not generating a current, the reference can be permanently connected to an electrometer with minimal leakage. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.
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spelling oxford-uuid:67d33382-61b6-46f3-9a39-fdbfe0885f602022-03-26T18:40:54ZFemtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperaturesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:67d33382-61b6-46f3-9a39-fdbfe0885f60EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2000Harrison, RAplin, KCalibration of ultralow current ammeters deployed in atmospheric ion counters requires stable current references operating at high source impedance. Using standard precision components, this current reference generates equal bipolar currents of nominally ±500fA, cyclically for 32 s each. The currents were found to be stable to 2 fA over the temperature range - 20 to 20°C, typical of atmospheric conditions. The output current is delivered via a capacitor, and by arranging for the capacitor to be guarded at ground potential when the system is not generating a current, the reference can be permanently connected to an electrometer with minimal leakage. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.
spellingShingle Harrison, R
Aplin, K
Femtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperatures
title Femtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperatures
title_full Femtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperatures
title_fullStr Femtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperatures
title_full_unstemmed Femtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperatures
title_short Femtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperatures
title_sort femtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperatures
work_keys_str_mv AT harrisonr femtoamperecurrentreferencestableoveratmospherictemperatures
AT aplink femtoamperecurrentreferencestableoveratmospherictemperatures