The influence of the half-life of a metastable state on the dead-time correction for nonextending dead times in single detector systems

The dead-time losses for single detector systems using a nonextending dead time is recalculated for those nuclides that decay via a metastable state and for which both radiations, that from the parent and that from the daughter, are counted. It is shown that the metastable state effects a notable deviation that tends to raise the result even if enlarged dead times are applied. (orig.)