Automatic dead-time correction for multichannel pulse-height analyzers at variable counting rates

Monte Carlo optimization of sample dimensions of an 241Am–Be source-based PGNAA setup for water rejects analysis

“…Loss-free counting method is of the second category and has been introduced by Harms [24] to afford an alternative method to pulser injection and live-clock extension methods which are not accurate when measuring variable counting rates.…”

Uncertainty of nuclear counting

“…with digital acquisition in list mode). Several techniques have been applied to compensate the count loss, such as system live-time counting techniques [24,25], including pileup correction [26], pulser techniques [27,28], and 'loss-free' counting [29][30][31][32][33][34]. The simplest method of dead-time correction utilizes a live-time clock where an accurately timed pulse train is counted only in those S4 time intervals when the measuring system is free to accept or record events.…”

“…in the case of short-lived radionuclides for which the activity varies significantly during a measurement [7,[46][47][48][49][50]. Adaptive 'loss-free' counting systems can deal with the simultaneous variation of the count rate and the live-time fraction [29][30][31][32][33][34], but classical live-time counting applying an average dead-time correction is in error [44,45].…”

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“…Loss-free counting was introduced before the advent of the digital spectrometer by WESTPHAL, 7 improving on HARMS differential dead time correction method. 8 The loss-free spectrometer measures instantaneous dead time with a virtual pulser and adds a corresponding number of counts to the channel in the MCA determined by the pulse digitized at that time. It would be a fallacy to think that this method increases information throughput of the spectrometer, it only solves the problem of varying deadtime corrections.…”