Simplifying data fitting using branching ratios as constraints in alpha spectrometry

Interference between different emissions and the asymmetric peak-shape in a lpha spectrometry with semiconductor detectors force one to use spectral de convolution in order to evaluate contributions from individual peaks. Previ ously, only sets of unrelated peaks have generally been considered in fitti ng procedures, with the restriction of the same peak-shape being applied ov er the whole spectrum. However, in complex alpha spectra, several emissions commonly originate from the same emitting nuclide, The use of branching ra tios as constraints simplifies the fitting process and more accurate result s are achieved. Thus, we here describe fitting blocks of peaks as an altern ative method for the deconvolution of alpha spectra. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.