A sonic delay-line storage unit for a digital computer

The paper describes a sonic delay-line storage unit for 42 3 microsec digits for use in the easy-access or computing store of the FPC 1 computer and other computers and data-handling equipments. The utilization of the magnetostrictive effect to initiate sonic pulses in a length of pure nickel is explained. Details of the transducers and their operation, together with the various losses and limitations which occur in the initiation, propagation and reception of the sonic pulses, are given. The effect of temperature change is also discussed. The paper gives details of the associated circuit with the necessary setting-up procedure.