ballistic deficit effect

The ballistic deficit effect in radiation spectroscopy systems refers to the incomplete integration of the output signals of radiation detectors, which can deteriorate the performance of systems employing detectors with large variations in the duration of their output signals.

 

 

Any real pulse rises from zero to its peak in a finite time Tr and there will be a difference between the output and input depending on the ratio of τ to Tr. This difference is called the ballistic deficit (shown as ∆ in Figure). If τ > 5×Tr , ∆ < 1% of the signal height.