Method for effective dead time measurement in counting systems

Abstract

The counting losses introduced by the dead time of a counting system are a limiting factor in counting measurements. The purpose of this work is to report an efficient method for the measurement of the effective dead time of a counting system and to characterize its dead time behavior, providing a way to investigate each experimental situation. The method, which we designate as Delayed and Mixed Pulses method, is based on the artificial piling-up of detector pulses with electronic pulses delayed by a specific time interval. It is applicable to the measurement of the effective dead time of a counting system, including both pileup effects and the dead time characteristics of the elements of the counting chain. With counting systems relying on gaseous radiation detectors, we achieved a standard uncertainty of about 5-10% in the dead times measured.

Experimental Study of the $w$-Values and Fano Factors of Gaseous Xenon and Ar-Xe Mixtures for X-Rays

“…The intensity of the beam was measured by counting the number of X-ray photons absorbed in the gas with a single channel analyser and an electronic counter. Since the counting rates were fairly high (about ) dead time corrections had to be made with a dead time paralysable model [11], [17]. Corrections for losses due to the escape of Ar L-and Xe M-fluorescence X-rays were also made since X-ray spectra were obtained during this second step using a multichannel analyser.…”