Low noise op-amp delivers significant performance enhancements

Texas Instruments OPA818 Low Noise Op-Amp is a decompensated, voltage-feedback operational amplifier for high-speed and wide dynamic range applications. The op-amp has a low-noise JFET input stage that connects high gain-bandwidth with a broad supply range from 6V to 13V. The fast slew rate of 1400V/μs produces high large-signal bandwidth and low distortion. This amplifier is constructed employing the company's proprietary, high-speed, SiGe process to deliver significant performance enhancements over other high-speed, FET-input amplifiers.

The op-amp is an extremely versatile, wideband TIA photodiode amplifier for application in optical test and communication equipment, and numerous scientific, medical, and industrial instruments. The device showcases 2.7GHz gain-bandwidth, low 2.4pF total input capacitance, and 2.2nV/√Hz input noise. The device achieves over 85MHz signal bandwidth in TIA configuration with 20kOhm TIA gain (RF) and 0.5pF photodiode capacitance (CD) with wide output swings. The decompensated, low-noise architecture with pico amperes of input bias current is also ideal for high-gain test and measurement solutions. Though normally stable in gains ≥7V/V, the device can be employed in applications with lower gains by implementing noise-gain shaping techniques.

The op-amp is provided in an eight-lead WSON package with an exposed thermal pad for heat dissipation. This device is defined to function over the industrial temperature range of –40C to +85C.

Typical applications include wideband TIAs, wafer scanning equipment, optical communication modules, high-speed DAQ, active probes, OTDR, test and measurement front-ends, and medical and chemical analysers.