The alpha detector properties

The properties of the detector are divided into groups:
Detector file properties (see Saving and loading detector files)
General properties
Peak shape properties
Dead layer properties

General properties
Diameter
The diameter of the detector window. Alpha particles emitted from the source are registered as pulses by the detector when they enter the detector through the detector window.
Resolution

The detector resolution, measured full width at half maximum, is the effect of the detectors electronics on the quality of the spectra it is used to measure.
Thickness


The thickness of the active volume of the detector. The active volume means the volume that is actually able to detect incoming alpha particles.
Dead layer thickness


The thickness of the dead layer of the detector. The dead layer is a thin layer of material on the surface of the detector that does not register incoming alpha particles. The dead layer contributes to the energy loss of the alpha particle.

Peak shape properties
Total tailing

The total amount of tailing to apply (0 = none, 1= full). Peak tailing is caused by the impulse response of the detector. This parameter allows regulation of how much tailing is desired in the simulation.
Fast component

Used to specify the so-called fast component of the double exponential tail by giving the mean of the first of the two exponential envelopes.
Slow component

Used to specify the so-called slow component of the double exponential tail by giving the mean of the second of the two exponential envelopes. Much like the property Fast component, except Slow component refers to the more slowly rising of the two envelopes.
Slow fraction

The slow fraction is used to specify the ratio between the areas of the slow and fast component. This property can be used to finetune the tailing effects together with the slow and fast component properties.

Dead layer properties

Dead layer material list

The dead layer material list allows you to select the material of the dead layer of the detector. The dead layer contributes to the energy-loss of an incoming alpha particle, and the main factor is the atomic number of the material.

See also:
The detector page
Loading and saving detector files