The Correction of Continuous Spectra for the Finite Resolution of the Spectrometer

Abstract

The relation between the theoretical intensity function of a continuous spectrum and the intensity measured with an ionization chamber (or counter) and a spectrometer, is discussed. It is shown that while the problem of correcting the observed intensity for the finite resolution of the spectrometer does not always have a mathematically unique solution, the requirement that the theoretical intensity have a smooth graph is sufficient to make the solution practically unique. On this basis, an approximate solution of the problem is given, which involves the first and second differences of a set of equally spaced measurements. A second method of solution is discussed which involves the scansion of a template of the measured intensity wave-length curve by a photoelectric cell connected to a recording galvanometer. This method has practical disadvantages but illustrates several theorems derived analytically in the earlier part of the paper.