Lifetime Measurements of Phosphorescence Signals of Small Intensity

By the use of a time averaging computer one is able to measure the lifetime of weak phosphorescence. The computer performs in two ways: once it increases the signal-to-noise-ratio by n-times addition of single scans and by m-times smoothing of the resulting function. The theoretical limit of increase is n1/2. If short-lived phosphorescence is to be measured (τ < 0.5 sec) the computer is used as a storing oscilloscope; this makes it possible to determine lifetimes without photographs of oscilloscope traces.