Novel data analysis tool for the evaluation of Coincidence Doppler Broadening Spectra of the positron-electron annihilation line

Coincidence Doppler Broadening Spectroscopy (CDBS) of the 511 keV annihilation line reveals the elemental signature at the annihilation site in matter. For this reason, CDBS enables the analysis of foreign atoms in the host matrix, vacancy-solute complexes and precipitates in solids. Due to the lack of a comprehensive program for the analysis of CDBS data we developed a modular python-based open source software solution for the reliable extraction of the annihilation line to provide so-called ratio curves highlighting the elemental signature in the spectra. In particular, the new program allows the readout and spectra averaging of multiple detector pairs. Moreover, we implemented an improved algorithm to further reduce the background by about one order of magnitude at high Doppler shifts.

Automated summary

Coincidence Doppler Broadening Spectroscopy (CDBS) can reveal the elemental signature at the annihilation site in matter, and can be used to analyze foreign atoms, vacancy-solute complexes, and precipitates in solids. Due to the lack of a comprehensive program for the analysis of CDBS data, a modular python-based open source software solution was developed to extract the annihilation line reliably and provide ratio curves highlighting the elemental signature in the spectra. The new program allows the readout and averaging of multiple detector pairs, and implements an improved algorithm to significantly reduce the background at high Doppler shifts.