Dead time

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-002881",
  "term": "Dead time",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The period following a detection event in a radiation counter during which the instrument is unable to register another event. This occurs because the detector or associated electronics require a finite time to recover and process the initial signal. It leads to a loss of counts at high counting rates and necessitates a correction for accurate measurements.",
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "radiation counter"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1994, 66, 2513. 'Nomenclature for radioanalytical chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 2517 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466122513)",
    "PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2174 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/dead-time/"
}