Analogue pulse arithmetic using logarithmic p-n junctions

Circuit techniques for performing analogue pulse arithmetic on the amplitudes of random nuclear pulses are described. The novel elements of a computer, which evaluates the expression f(w, x, y, z) = (± A ± Kw ± Lx)¿(± B ± My ± Nz)ß in 5¿s, are described; these centre on the processes of obtaining a logarithm or antilogarithm of a pulse amplitude. Although primarily intended for nuclear-particle online mass calculations, where the primary data arrive at completely random times, the techniques outlined are equally capable of application to other fields, such as sampled-data computing systems. Here, the known regular sequence of pulses would ease the problem of circuit restoration during pulse intervals, whilst the comparative freedom of pulse-operated circuits from temperature drift would be a valuable feature.