A comparison of the maximum entropy method of analysis with the exciton model plus the master equation

The maximum entropy method of analysis is successful in fitting experimental data. In order to reveal the underlying physics, this method is applied in comparison with the conventional approach, i.e the exciton model plus the master equation, to three cases. It is found that both approaches produce almost equally good fits to spectra, and yield almost the same average exciton numbers. This implies that there must be similar physical ideas behind the two approaches, and it should be safe to use the maximum entropy method of analysis to fit data or to estimate reaction cross sections. (1 tab., 4 figs.)