An instrument for maintaining a torsional pendulum at constant amplitude is described. Automatic plotting of internal friction against temperature over a frequency range of more than three decades is obtainable. The instrument is simply constructed from commercially available components and can be adapted easily to suit most torsion pendulums in use. A modification that permits the frequency of oscillation to be varied by more than an order of magnitude without otherwise disturbing the apparatus is also presented. Measurement technique is discussed and two major sources of error are evaluated. A Zener peak measured with this apparatus is compared with that obtained by the classical 'decaying amplitude' method.
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Brozel et al. (1978) studied this question.