Analysis of Decay Data

Usually, analysis of recorded data is performed by means of software supplied with the apparatus. Examples concerning the visual aspect of the experimental decay, and different ways to analyze the data have already been illustrated in Sect. 7.2. 

In the following discussion, a few considerations will be added for an appropriate analysis of the decay data, especially if time domain measurements are to be dealt with. 

Usually, it is very convenient to start displaying the intensity decay data by means of a logarithmic scale, as illustrated in Fig. 7.3b. There are two possibilities  

Most commonly, the decay of the total emission intensity is fit as a sum of two exponential terms  

Zi and X2 are the lifetime values, and Ai e A2 are their respective emission intensity at f = 0 (the so-called pre-exponential factors). The meaning of these terms depends on the particular system under investigation. 

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