GEIGER COUNTER

Updated 05-May-2020.

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The Geiger Counter: Short video demonstrating that although essentially a very simple device the Geiger Counter is an exquisitely sensitive detector of ionising radiation. It can detect a single particle. Here we demonstrate its use in detecting radiation from minerals and describe in simple terms how it works. Video recorded in 2007.Although essentially a very simple device the Geiger Counter is an exquisitely sensitive detector of ionising radiation. It can detect a single particle. Here we demonstrate its use in detecting radiation from minerals and describe in simple terms how it works.

My botty best at summarizing from Wikipedia: also known as a Geiger–Muller counter, it is widely used in applications such as radiation dosimetry . it detects ionizing radiation such as alpha particles, beta particles, and gamm the tube is filled with an inert gas such as helium, neon, or argon at low pressure . the tube briefly conducts electrical charge when a particle or photon of incident radiation makes the gas conductive the counts display is the simplest and is the number of ionizing events detected . the counts readout is normally used when alpha or beta particles are being detected. instruments measuring dose rate require the use of an energy compensated tube . the electronics will apply known factors to make this conversion, which is specific to each instrument . modern instruments offer serial communications with a host computer or network . the distinctive sound normally associated with handheld or portable Geiger counters . the output pulse from a Geiger–Müller tube is always of the same magnitude . high radiation rates due to the “dead time” of the dead time will reduce indicated count rates above about 104 to 105 counts per second . for alpha particles and low energy beta particles, the “end-window” type of tube has to be used . ion the window is usually made of mica with a density of about 1.5 – 2.0 mg/cm2 . alpha particles have the shortest range and should be within 10 mm of the radiation source . the tube produces some beta particles can also be detected by a thin-walled “windowless” Geiger–Müller tube . scintillation counters or proportional counters should be used for discrimination . the article on the Geiger–Müller tube carries a more detailed account of the techniques used to detect photon radiation . for high energy photons the tube relies on the interaction of the radiation with the tube wall at low energies (less than 25 KeV) direct gas ionisation dominates and a steel tube attenuates photons . a chrome steel G-M tube is about 1% efficient over a in the 1930s a mica window was added to the cylindrical design allowing low-penetration radiation to pass through with ease . the integral unit allows single-handed operation, but the two piece design allows easier manipulation of the detector “hot spot” detectors measure high radiation gamma locations . pancake probes are used to increase the area of detection in two-piece instruments . in integral instruments there is a window in the body of the casing hybrid instruments have a separate probe for particle detection and a gamma detection tube within the electronics module . the detectors are switchable by the operator, depending the radiation type that is being measured . this covers all radiation the geiger counter is a portable radiation detector . it uses a halogen tube invented in 1947 by Sidney H. Liebson . it superseded the earlier Geiger–Müller tube because of its much longer life and lower operating voltage, typically 400-900 volts . it is much longer and has a much longer operating life than the earlier