Time response and its impact on prompt fission $$\gamma $$-ray spectra characteristics

The time dependence of prompt $$\gamma $$ -ray spectral characteristics, in particular the multiplicity, was studied during the first 10 ns after the spontaneous fission of $${}^{252}$$ Cf. The impact of prompt window and experimental time resolution on the determination of prompt multiplicities is assessed and described mathematically. As a consequence we are able to offer corrections that allow a reliable comparison of results from different measurements. An apparent discrepancy between a theoretical and an experimentally found time dependence is explained by the influence of a finite experimental timing resolution as well as the choice of the prompt timing window.