Electronic – Op Amp output’s noise changes when the gain changes

gainoperational-amplifier

Schematic

I use Arduino DUE to generate a 100 Hz pulse.

I wanted to remove the DC value so I added a high pass filter and this is connected to the Op Amp(ADA4000-1)'s input. A RIGOL's DP832 power supply is giving +/- 9V to the Op Amp.

These are connected to the breadboard and I noticed when I change R2's value.

The following screenshots are the Op Amp's output.

  1. R2 = 0 (Unity gain)

low0
low1

Some noise is discovered from the signal's positive peak.

  1. R2 = 40k, gain = 5

high0
high1

When the gain becomes bigger, reversely, the signal's negative peak shows noise and the flat line after the positive peak seems noisy.

  • What seems to be the reason for the noise when the gain changes?
  • Also, what could be the solution to remove these noises?

EDITED: You guys are right; the output was unstable due to the missing decoupling caps.

circuitBefore
I changed it to a unity gain buffer.

Before adding the decoupling capacitor to the negative terminal,
Pulse

the same phenomenon was shown.

circuitAfter
As you see my pen pointing, adding 100nF cap,
pulse after
now it is giving a stable output! Thanks!

Two more things;

  • When I touch the Op Amp's output with my finger, I discovered that the output becomes stable (by looking at the oscilloscope) without the decoupling capacitor. Why did this happen?

  • This happened due to the unpopulated decoupling capacitor. Is there a name/technical jargon of this phenomenon?

Best Answer

The oscillation is a result of instability in the layout, perhaps inductive power or ground leads without decoupling 🧢’s on power to gnd .

Unity gain gives the widest BW (from fixed GBW) but also the lowest phase margin which degrades with any capacitive load, unless compensated with reduced BW.

There is also a slope on the pulses, which suggests another reactive effect in your layout not shown on your schematic but could be uncalibrated 10:1 probe error.

So correct that with the probe trimmer and scope test pulse , add ceramic caps. to both supply rails and use a very short probe ground lead to get textbook waveforms from DAC then OpAmp.

Even Alkaline batteries make random noise which you can hear with 1.5V on a speaker, spurious effects depend on the phase margin which can improve with gain or in your case be asymmetric while improving.

Define your capacitive load! Is there a long cable output and measure your 9V supplies with a divider.