Dead-time losses in buffer systems

The dynamics of data-acquisition devices using a buffer system is studied in detail. Dead-time losses for both an image-transfer charge-coupled device (CCD) and a multi-event buffer system under a flux of randomly incoming events are calculated. Results are given as a function of dimensionless variables and they can be used in other applications dealing with different time ranges. As an example, the results shown in this work are applied to a realistic acquisition system for detection of high-energy gamma rays by means of ground-based air Cherenkov telescopes. Results for this particular system are compared with a Monte-Carlo simulation.