Harvard Research Group Uses LabVIEW, PXI to Study Nanowire FET Sensor Arrays

The Challenge

Creating a virtual, high-channel-count, lock-in amplifier for nanotechnology research.

The Solution

Using NI LabVIEW  software and a multichassis PXI solution to develop a highly flexible and compact lock-in amplifier.

A lock-in amplifier is an instrument used to detect very small AC signals in a noisy environment. Scientists use these amplifiers in many areas of research, including medical, biological, geological, and materials research.

At the Lieber Research Group at Harvard University, we had an application to detect specific biomolecules/viruses using nanowire field effect transistor (FET) arrays. Nanowires have potential applications in detecting disease markers in body fluids that are indicative of malignancies, such as breast and ovarian cancers, and other types of diseases.

LabVIEW and PXI helped a Harvard research group measure nanowire growth while reducing cost.

We needed to address two issues when developing a lock-in amplifier. First, software-based lock-in techniques are computationally expensive. This required consideration of the code that could optimize processing power for a multichannel application. Second, we had to determine the necessary specifications and requirements and consider whether a virtual instrument (VI) could effectively replace its traditional hardware-based counterpart.

Using the NI Lock-In Amplifier Start-Up Kit, we found an example VI to meet our needs. This system provided us with a lower cost, smaller dimensions, and more flexibility than its traditional counterpart.

– Charles Lieber and Quan Qing

The Lieber Research Group, Harvard University

Read more about how Harvard University developed a lock-in amplifier.

This article first appeared in the Q4 2007 issue of Instrumentation Newsletter.

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