The optimum dynamics of preset count digital rate meter algorithms

The concept of "quality of measurement,'' Q, of the count rate digital measurement algorithm has been applied to the class of preset count digital rate meter algorithms. The best quality corresponds to the minimum of (tau x epsilon) product, where tau is the response time of the algorithm to a sudden change in the average count rate and eis the fractional standard deviation of the steady-state measurement of a constant average count-rate pulse stream. Analytical expressions for tau and epsilon of digital rate meter algorithms are used to calculate maximum values of Q for both weighted moving average and exponential algorithms. The values of the basic algorithm parameters, k for the moving average, and a for the exponential algorithm to achieve these maximum values of Q are derived for both algorithms. A comparison of the present results with the corresponding results obtained for preset time algorithms of these types has been carried out. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(98)03212-2].