Answer to Question #807 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Instrumentation and Measurements — Instrument Calibration (IC)

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

What is a good reference for an introduction to counting statistics?

I have found the section beginning on page 396 of Herman Cember's Introduction to Health Physics, Third Edition, McGraw-Hill, 1996, to be a convenient source of information for counting statistics. Others are:

Knoll, G. Radiation Detection and Measurement, McGraw Hill Book Company, 1989 or latest edition
Tsoulfanidis, N. Measurement and Detection of Radiation, McGraw Hill Book Company, 1995
Bevington, P.; Robinson, D.K. Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1992

I use Bevington as a text but it has lots more than just counting statistics.

Tom Gesell
Department of Physics

Answer posted on March 26, 2001. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.