The chart below summarizes the basic attributes of the three primary time-domain instrument types.
Detailed analyses follow.
To get accurate results, measurements must often be run for hours. This continues to be a drawback in the life science area, where samples are not stable over long periods of time. PTI strobe systems can make accurate measurements in minutes or even seconds . On the other hand, multi-frequency phase systems have substantially increased in their complexity of operation and data analysis, making measurements more prone to operator error. Virtually all operations are under computer control.