Press Release March 2024
Instrumentation GmbH

Page 1 of 2

© Spectrum

DDS Option for high-speed AWGs generates up to 20 sine waves
20 independent sine waves up to 400 MHz can be controlled on one generator channel
Grosshansdorf, Germany – 20. March 2024. Spectrum Instrumentation has released a new firmware option for its range ofversatile 16-bit Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWGs) with sampling rates up to 1.25 GS/s and bandwidths up to 400
MHz. The new option allows users to define 23 DDS cores per AWG-card, that can be routed to the hardware outputchannels. Each DDS core (sine wave) can be programmed for frequency, amplitude, phase, frequency slope and amplitude
slope. This enables, for example, the control of lasers through AODs and AOMs, as often used in quantum experiments,
with just a few simple commands - instead of making large data array calculations. The DDS output can be synchronizedwith external trigger events or by a programmable
timer with resolution of 6.4 ns.
DDS – Direct Digital Synthesis – is a method forgenerating arbitrary periodic sine waves from a single,fixed-frequency reference clock. It is a technique widelyused in a variety of signal generation applications. TheDDS functionality implemented on Spectrum
Instrumentation’s AWGs is based on the principle ofadding multiple ‘DDS cores’ to generate a multi-carrier(multi-tone) signal with each carrier having its own welldefined frequency, amplitude and phase.
Advantages of using DDS for arbitrary
waveform generators

DDS-example with 16 superimposed sine waves on one AWG output
channel and the FFT analysis

With the ability to switch between the normal AWG mode (which generates waveforms out of pre-programmed data) andthe DDS mode (which needs only a few commands to generate sine wave carriers), the Spectrum AWGs are highly versatileand can be adapted to almost any application. In DDS-mode, the AWG acts as a base for the multi-tone DDS. The units builtin 4 GByte of memory and fast DMA transfer mode then allows the streaming of DDS commands at a rate as high as 10 million
commands per second! This unique capability provides the flexibility to perform user-defined slopes (e.g. s-shaped) as wellas various modulation types (e.g. FM and AM) with simple, easy-to-use, DDS commands.
DDS in Quantum Experiments
For years now, Spectrum AWGs have been successfully used worldwide in pioneering quantum research experiments. Since
2021, Spectrum Instrumentation has been part of the BMBF (German federal ministry of education and research) funding
program ‘quantum technologies – from basic research tomarket’ as part of the Rymax One consortium. The aim of
this consortium is building a Quantum Optimizer. The
development of the DDS option was based on feedbackfrom the consortium partners and other research
institutes worldwide.
The flexibility and fast streaming-mode of Spectrum’s
AWGs, which also enables data to be streamed straightfrom a GPU, allows the control of Qubits directly from aPC. While using an AWG in this way offers full control ofIn DDS-mode, only a few commands are needed to e.g. generate a sine
the generated waveforms, the drawback is that hugewave (orange block), accelerate the frequency (blue block) and lower theamplitude (green block).
amounts of data need to be calculated. This slows thecritical decision-making loop. In contrast, using theversatile multi-tone DDS functionality greatly reduces the amount of data that must be transferred, while still keeping fullcontrol. All the key functionality required for quantum research is built in. With just a single command users can apply intrinsic
dynamic linear slope functions to produce extremely smooth changes to frequency and amplitude.
Headquarters

US OfficeSpectrum Instrumentation GmbH, Germany
Phone: +49 4102-6956-0
Email: Info@spec.deSpectrum Instrumentation Corp., USA
Phone: (201) 562-1999
Email: Sales@spectrum-instrumentation.com

https://www.spectrum-instrumentation.com

Press Release March 2024
Instrumentation GmbHPage 2 of 2© Spectrum

DDS controls waveforms in Test, Measurement and Communications
In many kinds of testing systems, it is important to produce and readily control accurate waveforms. The DDS option provides
an easy and programmable way for users to produce trains of waveforms, frequency sweeps or finely tuneable references ofvarious frequencies and profiles. Applications that require the fast frequency switching and fine frequency tuning that DDSoffers are widespread. They can be found in industrial, medical, and imaging systems, network analysis or evencommunication technology, where data is encoded using phase and frequency modulation on a carrier.

Availability of DDS option
The DDS option is available now for the full range of M4i.66xx PCIecards, M4x.66xx PXIe modules, portable LXI/Ethernet DN2.66x units
and multi-channel desktop LXI/Ethernet DN6.66xx products. By
simply performing a firmware update, all previously purchased 66xx
series products can be equipped with the new firmware option.
Programming can be done using the existing driver SDKs that areincluded in the delivery. Examples are available for Python, C++,
MATLAB, LabVIEW and many more. The option is available now.
23 different AWGs are able to use the new DDS firmware
option. They offer 16-bit resolution, up to 1.25 GS/s speed andup to 32 channels.

About Spectrum Instrumentation

Spectrum Instrumentation, founded in 1989, uses a unique modular
concept to design and produce a wide range of more than 200
digitizers and generator products as PC-cards (PCIe and PXIe) and stand-alone Ethernet units (LXI). In over 30 years, Spectrum
has gained customers all around the world, including many A-brand industry-leaders and practically all prestigious universities.
The company is headquartered near Hamburg, Germany, known for its 5-year warranty and outstanding support that comes
directly from the design engineers. More information about Spectrum can be found at www.spectrum-instrumentation.com

Headquarters

US OfficeSpectrum Instrumentation GmbH, Germany
Phone: +49 4102-6956-0
Email: Info@spec.deSpectrum Instrumentation Corp., USA
Phone: (201) 562-1999
Email: Sales@spectrum-instrumentation.com

https://www.spectrum-instrumentation.com