SYSTEMATIC ERRORS IN EMISSION CROSS SECTIONS ARISING IN ANALYSIS OF LABORATORY BEAM MEASUREMENTS

A technique for obtaining emission cross sections in laboratory beam studies is presented, including effects on the cross section due to polarization of the emitted light. Systematic analytical errors arising from optical problems are analyzed and evaluated for a typical spectral feature. The primary sources of error are shown to arise from the particular geometry used in the optical measurements, the variation of the calibrating light source over the bandwidth of the emission feature, and the variation of the responsivity of the optical system over the bandwidth. © 1969 Optical Society of America.