Accidental Rate Is a Rate Product - Detector Physics: Timing and Spatial Reconstruction Step by Step

Build the accidental estimate from two independent detector rates and a timing window. In this toy ledger, 2 hertz times 3 hertz times a 2 second window gives 12 hertz of accidentals; real estimates also need background checks, dead-time correction, timing calibration, resolution limits, and uncertainty.

Two independent channel rates and a window make an accidental rate. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

Independent rates multiply by the window

Rate A is 2 hertz, rate B is 3 hertz, and the full window is 2 seconds.

R_{\text{acc}}=2\times3\times2

The product is a rate again

The accidental rate is 12 hertz.

R_{\text{acc}}=12\ \text{Hz}