Response time of light emitting diode logarithmic electrometer

In a logarithmic electrometer which uses a transistor as a nonlinear element, a capacitance is generally connected across the feedback element of the operational amplifier. This stabilizes the loop but degrades the response at low current levels. However the stability problem is not so serious when a junction diode is used. In the present work an attempt was made to study the response time of a logarithmic electrometer which uses a light emitting diode (LED) as a nonlinear element and without external capacitance. The calculated values of rise time are based on an equivalent circuit with a depletion layer capacitance and voltage dependent conductance. These values are found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimentally measured values. This study will be useful in the estimation of dynamical errors in logarithmic electrometers using junction diode/LED, LED photometers and will be helpful in the techniques for improvements of the response time of logarithmic electrometers using a junction diode, particularly at low currents. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.