An Iterative Unfolding Procedure

An iterative procedure for unfolding the effects of the finite resolution of a detector from an observed pulse height distribution is discussed. The process is demonstrated for a particular detection system. Convergence and uniqueness properties of the method are discussed empirically. A general expression for the propagated error resulting from errors in the detected pulse height distribution is derived. Approximations are made in order to evaluate the propagated error for a particular detector. These approximations become better as the resolution of the detector improves. The results indicate that the error rapidly approaches a limit of from 1.5 to 3 times the error in the observed distribution. This limit is reached in approximately three iterations.