The double dead-time method applied to a single detector

Abstract

A new method is presented to solve the problem arising from pairs of correlated pulses which can result from the detection of nuclear disintegrations in an ionizing-radiation detector. This method, called the double dead-time method, is based on the possibility of sending the detector output pulses to two (or more) dead-time circuits of the extending type, arranged in parallel, which generate dead times of minimum durations that differ from each other. This method applied especially to the measurement of disintegration rates of radionuclides decaying through a metastable state. The example of 75Se is considered.