Question regarding a decay spectrum graph

[dark_nebula]

Homework Statement

What the exact meaning or definition of « channel » written as the axis label in the graph?

Relevant Equations

It is a figure of the alpha particle groups produced in the decay of Pu(238)

I am not sure what is the description of Channel.

 

[phyzguy]

The detector being used produces pulses of different heights, depending on how much energy is deposited in the detector. The pulses are then fed into a device called a multi-channel analyzer, which groups the pulses according to height, with the lowest pulse heights going into the first channel and the highest pulse heights going into the highest numbered channel. In that sense it's like a histogram. So the channel is just a number that corresponds to pulse height, which corresponds to energy. Then you calibrate the channels with a spectrum with decays of a known energy, like the one you show. Does that make sense?

 

[dark_nebula]

The detector being used produces pulses of different heights, depending on how much energy is deposited in the detector. The pulses are then fed into a device called a multi-channel analyzer, which groups the pulses according to height, with the lowest pulse heights going into the first channel and the highest pulse heights going into the highest numbered channel. In that sense it's like a histogram. So the channel is just a number that corresponds to pulse height, which corresponds to energy. Then you calibrate the channels with a spectrum with decays of a known energy, like the one you show. Does that make sense?

Yes, thanks a lot, now I totally understand.