Simple dead-time and pile-up correction technique using a gated periodic pulse train

Abstract

In a pulse-height analysis system using a gated periodic pulse train for the correction of counting losses, it is shown that both the dead-time and pile-up losses can be corrected for if the clock pulses have the same width as the so called true pile-up time of the pulse processing system, and the clock pulses are rejected from the pulse train if a coincidence between the shaped clock pulses and the busy time of the system is detected. The technique was tested both with random-pulse generators and a Ge(Li) detector ( 60Co and 137Cs sources). At counting rate up to 50 kHz, it is shown that the correction was accurate to ± 1%.