Derivation of probability density function of dead times from time interval distribution measurements

When nuclear radiations or photons having a mean occurrence rate f₀ are detected by an ideal detector, the pulse train coming out of the detector also has a mean rate f₀ . A method for deriving a probability density function f( s) for fluctuating dead time s in a real system is described. In the method, a time interval distribution (TID) is used. To obtain f(s), the true rate f₀ had to be determined from the TID result. Although f₀ was determined by an approximation and, therefore, the f(s ) obtained was also an approximation, the method can be applied to various fields. An example of an application to a GM counter is presented