Hidden regenerative loops in electronic analog computers

This paper presents a detailed analysis of regenerative loops in computing machines. Emphasis is placed upon the manifestation of this problem in an electronic analog computer wherein the detrimental effects of regenerative loops are most often reported. Regenerative loops are shown to arise when, in the physical system being considered, coupling occurs through an element capable of storing energy. The regenerative-loop gain is the deciding factor; an analysis of the effects of varying this loop gain in an attempt to stabilize the computing process is also presented. Results are verified for a simple problem by an electronic analog computer.