What Metrology Systems and Amplifier Modules Does Magnicon Provide?

Updated

Magnicon lists Metrology Systems and Amplifier Modules as two distinct product categories alongside its SQUID electronics, SQUID sensors, and SQUID systems. The clearest documented example of an amplifier module is the ULCA-1 current amplifier/generator, a licensed PTB development that Magnicon describes as groundbreaking; the site's news archive also ties it to a EURAMET case study on ULCA-1 variants developed within the EMPIR e-SI-Amp project. Beyond naming these categories and the ULCA-1, the public homepage does not publish specifications, prices, or a product list for either category, so detailed selection requires the product pages or a direct inquiry.

How the two categories differ

Category What the site indicates What is not stated publicly
Metrology Systems A product category for precision-measurement systems, presented next to SQUID systems Model names, channel counts, accuracy figures, pricing
Amplifier Modules A product category; ULCA-1 current amplifier/generator is the named example Full module lineup, electrical specifications, lead times

The distinction matters for buyers: metrology systems appear to be configured measurement setups, while amplifier modules are components. The homepage does not define the boundary between them, so confirm which category a specific requirement falls under before requesting a quote.

The ULCA-1 current amplifier/generator

The ULCA-1 is the only amplifier product the homepage describes in any depth, and it is documented through news items rather than a datasheet:

  • Origin: developed by PTB, the German national metrology institute; the developers received the Helmholtz Award (endowed with €20,000), and Magnicon states it is proud to license this development.
  • Validation: ULCA-1 variants were studied in a EURAMET case study under the EMPIR e-SI-Amp project, which points to use in electrical quantum-metrology and small-current calibration work.
  • Relevance: a current amplifier/generator in this class is used where stable, traceable current generation and amplification matter — for example, calibrating low-current instruments or supplying reference currents in a measurement setup.

If your task is, for example, sourcing a traceable current source for a low-current calibration bench, the ULCA-1 is the product to ask Magnicon about directly; the site gives no accuracy, range, or noise figures to compare against alternatives.

Where metrology and amplifier products fit

Magnicon positions itself as a supplier of high-performance SQUID electronics, low-noise SQUID sensors, customized SQUID systems, and measurement know-how. Metrology systems and amplifier modules sit within that precision-measurement focus rather than in general-purpose electronics. The company's stated research direction reinforces this: a joint project with PTB and IAP (MCFLL) aims at multichannel SQUID electronics scalable from a few channels to 1,000 or more, suitable for single-stage and two-stage SQUIDs and TES bias, while keeping moderate costs, low noise, and high bandwidth. Buyers evaluating amplifier or metrology hardware for multi-channel cryogenic or quantum-metrology setups should treat that project as a signal of where the product line is heading, not as a shipping specification.

Finding details and publications

  • Product pages: use the site's Metrology Systems and Amplifier Modules sections for the current offering; the homepage itself only names the categories.
  • News archive: the ULCA-1 award item, the EURAMET case study note, and conference announcements (KRYO 2024, LTD20, CPEM2018) are the main public record of product activity.
  • Downloads and references: the site provides a Downloads section and a References and Links page, which are the places to look for documentation and cited publications.
  • Customer area: SQUID electronics control software (SQUIDViewer v3.3.18 and the SQUIDViewer DLL) is distributed there and requires a password, so plan for account access if your work involves Magnicon electronics.
  • Direct contact: for specifications, pricing, or configuration questions on metrology systems and amplifier modules, the Contact page is the appropriate route, since no pricing or ordering information is published.