A function using cubic splines for the analysis of alpha-particle spectra from silicon detectors

A function based on the characteristics of the alpha-particle lines obtaine d with silicon semiconductor detectors and modified by using cubic splines is proposed to parametrize the shape of the peaks. A reduction in the numbe r of parameters initially considered in other proposals was carried out in order to improve the stability of the optimization process. It was imposed by the boundary conditions for the cubic splines term. This function was th en able to describe peaks with highly anomalous shapes with respect to thos e expected from this type of detector. some criteria were implemented to co rrectly determine the area of the peaks and their errors. Comparisons with other well-established functions revealed excellent agreement in the final values obtained from both fits. Detailed studies on reliability of the fitt ing results were carried out and the application of the function is propose d. Although the aim was to correct anomalies in peak shapes, the peaks show ing the expected shapes were also well fitted. Accordingly, the validity of the proposal is quite general in the analysis of alpha-particle spectromet ry with semiconductor detectors. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.