Experimental comparison of different dead-time correction techniques in single-channel counting experiments

For single-channel counting, the dead-time correction method using transmission formulae was compared experimentally with the live-time technique. Agreement is within 4×10⁻⁴ for count rates up to 10⁴ s⁻¹ when the formulae for dead times in series are used and the dead-time value related to the analogue pulse width is adjusted for the BIPM modules. At higher count rates, a bias of 2×10⁻³ is observed. Two different live-time modules were compared and it was demonstrated that the live-time correction is also sensitive to the analogue pulse width and to the duration or rise time of the clock pulses. When these effects are taken into account, the two modules differ by only 5×10⁻⁴.