10/10B-HS-H-CE High Voltage Amplifier 10 kV, 40 mA

This amplifier can drive both resistive and reactive loads (like capacitive or inductive loads) effectively. Its four-quadrant output design means it can source and sink current in both polarities. In practice, this allows the output to remain stable and accurate even when driving highly capacitive loads or when the load current reverses direction, which is crucial for applications like piezoelectric actuators or electrostatic devices.

The amplifier uses a fixed gain of 1000 V/V, so a ±10 V input signal is required to drive the output to ±10 kV. You can supply this control voltage from function generators or DACs. The unit provides analog monitor outputs for both voltage and current (scaled at 1 V per 1000 V output and 1 V per 4 mA output, respectively). These monitors allow you to observe the actual high-voltage output and load current on an oscilloscope or measurement system in real time, ensuring you have feedback on the amplifier’s output for precise control.

Small-signal bandwidth refers to the frequency range over which the amplifier can output a small amplitude voltage (typically a few percent of full scale) without significant attenuation, which for this model spans from DC up to about 60 kHz (-3 dB point). Large-signal bandwidth is the range for full-scale or high-amplitude signals (close to the maximum voltage) and is lower – roughly up to 19.5 kHz (-3 dB). In short, the amplifier can reproduce higher frequency content when the output voltage swing is small, but for very large voltage swings, the maximum frequency is limited to around tens of kilohertz to maintain fidelity.

The 10/10B-HS-H-CE has a very high slew rate of over 700 V/µs. This spec indicates how quickly the output can change by 700 volts in one microsecond. In practical terms, such a high slew rate means the amplifier can reach the commanded voltage extremely quickly. For example, a 1 kV step change would settle in just a few microseconds. This is beneficial for driving fast-changing waveforms or transient events, ensuring the high-voltage output accurately follows rapid input signal changes without undue delay.

Safety is a key consideration at such high voltages. The amplifier includes an interlock-enabled HV On/Off control that can be operated locally (via a front-panel switch) or remotely (via a connector), so you can quickly disable the high-voltage output if needed. It has an inherent short-circuit protection, meaning if the output is accidentally shorted or overloaded, the amplifier will limit the current and go into a protected state to prevent damage. Status indicators are provided to show if the unit is in a fault or out-of-regulation condition. Additionally, the unit is CE compliant, which means it meets rigorous safety and EMC standards. Always following the user manual guidelines (such as proper grounding and using the safety interlock) further ensures safe operation in high-voltage environments.

Yes, the amplifier is designed for precision and stability. It features a DC offset voltage of less than ±2 V, which is very small relative to the 10 kV range, ensuring you can accurately set zero output when needed. The drift over time is specified to be under 100 ppm per hour (non-cumulative), and drift with temperature is under 100 ppm/°C, meaning the output will remain stable over long experiments or as ambient conditions change. The low noise output (on the order of microamps of current noise and a fraction of a volt voltage noise) means it can drive sensitive devices like electro-optic modulators or high-voltage reference tests without introducing significant measurement error. Each unit is provided with a calibration certificate traceable to national standards (NIST), giving confidence in its accuracy for precision applications.

This high-voltage amplifier finds use in both R&D and industrial contexts wherever precise high-voltage control is required. Typical applications include polarising ferroelectric or piezoelectric materials (material poling), where a controlled high DC voltage is needed; electrostatic deflection or beam steering systems in scientific instruments; high-voltage component testing and insulation breakdown studies; as well as AC biasing of devices in semiconductor or materials research. Because of its fast response, it’s also used in driving piezo actuators or MEMS devices that require high voltage and high speed. In industrial settings, it can support processes like electrospinning, dielectric film testing, or precision high-voltage piezo control in manufacturing equipment. The unit’s versatility and control precision make it suitable for universities, national labs, and advanced manufacturing companies that deal with high-voltage technologies.