Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2012) 127: 81
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2012-12081-3

Regular Article

Statistical uncertainty in line shift and width interpretation

Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

^* e-mail: ihutch@mit.edu

Received: 18 May 2012
Accepted: 7 July 2012
Published online: 25 July 2012

Abstract

Elementary but general statistical analyses determine the uncertainty arising from photon statistics in measuring a line shift and width. Account is taken of a background as well as the required signal.