Investigation into the use of POSITRONFIT in the recovery of lifetime parameters using Monte-Carlo simulated lifetime spectra

Abstract

The Monte Carlo method is a powerful technique for simulating the accumulation of positron lifetime spectra. We, have written a MC program that exactly simulates the processes by which an experimental lifetime spectrum is formed. Multiple sets of two component lifetime spectra are generated, and the extracted "experimental" parameters obtained from POSITRONFIT analysis recorded. A comparison between the actual parameters and the recovered parameters allows some conclusions to be drawn with regard to the required system time resolution and the number of spectrum counts if POSITRONFIT is to successfully resolve different spectral components.