A synchronous signal processing technique for repetitive arbitrary waveforms

The details of a new signal processing technique have been discussed, an instrument (Time Resolver Electronics) constructed, and the performance compared with a conventional lock-in amplifier. The principal advantages include increased S/N and elimination of distortion caused by the temporal variation of the signal waveform. It has been shown that as the signal waveform departs from the sine wave, the efficiency of the new technique becomes superior to that used in commercial instruments. Even more dramatic is the demonstrated elimination of distortion due to waveform character, repetition rate, and duty cycle. Although we have chosen only one example to illustrate the capabilities of the new technique, there are a number of areas of possible application. These include the molecular beam area, pulsed laser excitation, and studies of excitation-relaxation phenomena in general. In fact, any application that presently requires a lock-in amplifier for signal processing could be a possible candidate to utilize the new technique to advantage.