Compact FPGA-based pulse-sequencer and radio-frequency generator for experiments with trapped atoms

Abstract: We present a compact FPGA-based pulse sequencer and radio-frequency (RF) generator suitable for experiments with cold trapped ions and atoms. The unit is capable of outputting a pulse sequence with at least 32 TTL channels with a timing resolution of 40 ns and contains a built-in 100 MHz frequency counter for counting electrical pulses from a photo-multiplier tube (PMT). There are 16 independent direct-digital-synthesizers (DDS) RF sources with fast (rise-time of ~60 ns) amplitude switching and sub-mHz frequency tuning from 0 to 800 MHz.