Relaxation Time Measurements by an Electronic Method

In many experiments, one is faced with the problem of measuring the time constant of decaying signals. The paper describes a simple electronic system that permits the direct measurement of time constants. The system was used in connection with relaxation experiments on hydrogen and rubidium masers and was found to operate well. The use of a computing counter in the systems gives the possibility of making averages on several experiments and obtaining the standard deviation of the results from the mean. The program for the computing counter is given.