Analysis of time-spectra from coincidence measurements with high stop-rates☆

Abstract The development of new types of particle detectors makes possible coincidence measurements of low probabilities with very high particle stop-rates (>MHz). A consequence of a high stop-rate is, however, a loss of true coincidences, which are included in the random background. This effect becomes more severe if the position channels of a position-sensitive particle detector are used to stop a single TAC (time-to-amplitude-converter). An analytical description of time-spectra is developed and tested by a simulated coincidence experiment. A procedure is described, which can be used to determine the contents of the time-peak and to correct for the loss of the true coincidence.