Editing Dead time (section)

==Paralyzable and non-paralyzable behaviour==
A detector, or detection system, can be characterized by a ''paralyzable'' or ''non-paralyzable'' behaviour.<ref name="Leo"/>
In a non-paralyzable detector, an event happening during the dead time is simply lost, so that with an increasing event rate the detector will reach a saturation rate equal to the inverse of the dead time. In a paralyzable detector, an event happening during the dead time will not just be missed, but will restart the dead time, so that with increasing rate the detector will reach a saturation point where it will be incapable of recording any event at all. A semi-paralyzable detector exhibits an intermediate behaviour, in which the event arriving during dead time does extend it, but not by the full amount, resulting in a detection rate that decreases when the event rate approaches saturation.<ref>{{DoE|article=DOE-HDBK-1122-2009 Part 5, Radiological Control Technician Training Site Academic Training Instructor's Guide Phase I|url=https://www.standards.doe.gov/files/doe-hdbk-1122-2009-part-5-radiological-control-technician-training-site-academic-training-instructors-guide-phase-i}}</ref>