Determination of spectra from pulse-height data

Abstract

A method for determining parameters of a physical spectrum from pulse-height data is described. This method is designed to utilize information from the entire range of data and possesses advantages over other methods in use which arbitrarily restrict the input-data range used for parameter determination. Applications to two problems in [beta]-spectroscopy are made. This method is most useful in those cases in which the information is distributed fairly smoothly over many data points. The statistical errors associated with the parameters may be determined in a straightforward manner.