Zero-Point Drift in Low-Frequency Mechanical Spectroscopy

Abstract

The concept of the ‘zero-point drift’, ZPD, is introduced and analyzed on the basis of mechanical loss measurements carried out in a low-frequency mechanical spectrometer – inverted torsion pendulum. It is demonstrated that the ZPD, which modifies damped harmonic oscillations leads to false values of the logarithmic decrement computed from several widely accepted algorithms.