maximum unity

08:35 Jun 22, 2017 

'Maximum unity' should not be used if one means 'maximum of unity', because 'maximum unity' is being used in a very similar context (quantum mechanics based data analysis) and seems to refer to the order of an exponent getting as close as possible to unity (first-order):
The multifractal spectrum f(alpha) is defined by the scaling of the leading power-law behavior in N... Its maximum unity corresponds to the typical exponent (alpha)sub0 https://arxiv.org/pdf/1610.00417.pdf
Furthermore, 'maximum unity' could refer to the coefficient of variation for a probability distribution being close to unity (ratio of standard deviation to mean close to 1). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficient_of_variation
Since these meanings are plausible in the context, I suggest a 'Did you mean "maximum of unity"?' note by the Asker.

08:32 Jun 22, 2017 

To me, the most helpful contribution here so far was philgoddard's 'Do they mean "a maximum OF unity"?'. I believe that they do, based on this paper, in which they say:
The Y-axis in the illustrated figures shows the probability density function of the particle flux with respect to energy normalized to a maximum of unity. We can clearly observe in the neutron spectrum that the neutron beam is sufficiently thermalized. http://www.jestr.org/downloads/Volume8Issue3/fulltext8382015...
I assume that the Asker and reader know what this means.

20:25 Jun 21, 2017 

No, I'm afraid neither of those would be mathematically correct, as they would change the meaning.

'unity' here simply means '= 1' — they might have said "...with max normalized to 1"; IOW, whatever the actual max value might have been, it is 'adjusted' so it = 1.

If other graphs are 'normalized' by the same factor, you will get a comparative view of the amplitudes. Alternatively, if all the graphs individually are separately normalized to 1, then the amplitude comparison will be lost, but it will be possible to compare the shape and timing of the plots.

20:18 Jun 21, 2017 

sounds really odd!

"unit” or "unitary value" would make far more sense.

13:40 Jun 21, 2017 

I note that there is no comma after "energy". Strictly speaking, that should mean that it is just energy that is normalised to a maximum unity. On the other hand, perhaps it's just an error of punctuation.

13:18 Jun 21, 2017 

Not really, it means the maximum value (whetever it is) is converted to represent 1.

13:16 Jun 21, 2017 

Do they mean "a maximum OF unity"?

12:01 Jun 21, 2017 

Oh no, sorry, I though this was an EN > FRench question :-/

11:59 Jun 21, 2017 

If you mean Farsi by FR, I should tell you that's super simple, at least in this case! TNX

10:30 Jun 21, 2017 

What it means is that the maximum figure, whatever it was, has been 'normalized' (i.e. multiplied or divided by some factor) to = 1 (as seen in your graph)

This sort of action makes it easier to compare graphs in terms of timing, distribution etc., where the absolute values themselves are not the key criterion.

Sorry, no idea how to express that in FR!

08:17 Jun 21, 2017 

The measured total neutron flux at the beam port entry is ～2.5 ×1012 n/cm2·sec at full power (1 MW). The measurement of the neutron flux was performed using cobalt foil activation. Figure 3.18 is the energy spectrum of neutrons at the entry of beam tube, calculated using MCNP by Kaushal Kishor Mishra. The Y-axis in the figure gives the probability density function of the particle flux with respect to energy normalized to a maximum unity. From the neutron spectrum, it can be clearly observed that the neutron beam is sufficiently thermalized.