relaxation

If a system is disturbed from its state of equilibrium it relaxes to that state, and the process is referred to as relaxation. The branch of kinetics concerned with such processes is known as relaxation kinetics. Relaxation techniques include temperature jump and pressure jump.
See also: chemical relaxation
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 149 (A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)) on page 185
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077 (Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)) on page 1160
PAC, 1993, 65, 2291 (Nomenclature of kinetic methods of analysis (IUPAC Recommendations 1993)) on page 2297