The Relationship Between Pulse-Height Distribution and Energy Spectrum

5 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PULSE-HEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND ENERGY SPECTRUM 

To determine the energy spectrum of particles emitted by a source, one measures, with the help of a detector and appropriate electronics, the pulse- 

The particle should deposit all its energy or a known constant fraction of it in the detector. 

The voltage pulse produced by the detector should be proportional to the particles energy dissipated in it, or a known relationship should exist between energy dissipated and pulse height. 

The electronic amplification should be the same for all pulse heights. 

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Since the relationship between pulse-height distribution and energy spectrum depends on these three requirements, it is important to discuss them in some detail. 

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