Dead time

The dead time of a particle (all radiation detectors accordingly in ) means a length of time immediately after the detection of a particle, while the detector is not again ready to detect a further particle. Wherein, if two particles arrive in quick succession, the second non- registered. Depending on the type of detector and the electronic apparatus connected to it, the dead time of constant size can be or depend on the particle energy and / or different parameters.

The number of times as short reach consecutively with the two particles the detector can be calculated A., since the particles originate from processes whose statistical behavior is known (see Poisson distribution ).

In some detectors currently running a dead time is extended by further incident particle. In this case, a higher rate of incoming particles lead to a lower count rate.

If the dead time, however, per gezähltem event constant and has the known value, it can be correct a measured count rate: