Aspects of Application and Calibration of a Binary Compensation Unit for Cryogenic Current Comparator Setups

Abstract

We have developed a binary compensation unit for balancing measurement bridges with cryogenic current comparators (CCCs) commonly used in resistance metrology. We present the basic design ideas for the new microcontroller-operated module. It offers balance over a gapless range of resistance ratios of the resistors to be compared. The binary setup allows for convenient calibration when being combined with a binary CCC. The calibration can be performed using the CCC's control electronics and software. Examples of measurements demonstrate the unit's high flexibility and stability of resistance calibration well below one part in 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">9</sup> over a period of 21 hours.