The Spectral difference method applied to plunger data: Lifetime determination at one distance

A generalization of an earlier proposed method for analysis of Doppler-shift attenuation lifetime measurements, namely the Spectral difference method, is presented for the case of Recoil distance Doppler-shift or plunger experiments. Using the data at only one distance between the target and stopper, the lifetime is derived directly by fitting the time dependence of the population of the level of interest using the line shape of the depopulating transition and the difference of the spectra of the depopulating and feeding transitions. Practical application to real data proves the applicability of the new procedure by reproducing literature lifetime values.