| When the Geiger counter was first invented in the | | | | ion or an electron penetrates the tube tearing |
| year 1908, no one even began to realize the | | | | electrons off the gas atoms. Because of the high |
| importance of this device and the impact it will still | | | | positive voltage of the wire situated in the center of |
| have decades later. Geiger counters detect | | | | the tube, the electrons are instantly attracted and so |
| radioactivity, including Alpha, Beta and Gamma | | | | they gain energy. Loaded with energy, the electrons |
| particles. The typical radiation detector consists of a | | | | then collide with the atoms, resulting in an avalanche |
| metal tube filled with low pressure gas. The most | | | | effect of more electrons. This process produces a |
| common gases found in Geiger counters are Neon | | | | very easy to detect pulse of current. The purpose |
| and Argon, along with small amounts of other gases. | | | | of the gas filling is that it helps the electricity flow |
| offers you complete information about radiation | | | | come to a stop without the intervention of an |
| detecting devices. | | | | electrical circuit. The Geiger counter, apart from being |
| The central component of any Geiger counter is the | | | | named after its inventor, has been deemed a |
| so-called Geiger-Muller tube. Other important | | | | 'counter' because every particle which passes through |
| components would be the visual readout and the | | | | produces an identical pulse allowing the particles to be |
| audio readout. The Geiger-Muller tube is a sort of | | | | counted electronically. |
| ionization chamber that counts the radiation particles. | | | | The main types of radiation particles measured by |
| The user becomes aware of that count by means of | | | | Geiger counters are alpha, beta and gamma. The |
| the visual readout which is either in the form of a | | | | alpha particles are the least penetrating forms of |
| traditional meter or of an electronic LCD. The vast | | | | radiation and are produced by radioactive materials |
| majority of Geiger counters are also equipped with | | | | such as uranium and thorium. Beta particles are more |
| an audio readout system. A digital radiation detector | | | | intense than alpha ones. The most penetrating form |
| also offers data ports for external computer readout. | | | | of radiation however consists in the gamma rays. |
| Modern devices are conceived to be very resistant | | | | They are only effectively absorbed and shielded by |
| and have a long life span. If you want a device which | | | | materials of high atomic weight such as lead. The |
| will give you a good performance over a long period | | | | gamma particles are potentially very dangerous. They |
| of time, you should make sure that the incorporated | | | | have the ability of passing through almost anything |
| batteries have ultra long lives. | | | | and can travel through hundreds of feet of air. |
| A Geiger counter allows you to detect radioactive | | | | X-rays are also considered to be potentially |
| particles in the surrounding environment or in certain | | | | hazardous because of their penetrating ability. The |
| items. These devices are very useful in situations | | | | main use for X-rays is seeing inside the human body |
| where a radioactive leakage may have occurred, | | | | and the internal structure of minerals. Medicine has |
| especially in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. The | | | | found X-rays to be extremely useful in destroying |
| Geiger counter also serves scientific purposes, in | | | | cancer cells. |
| prospecting for radioactive minerals or using it as a | | | | Being able to detect various levels of radioactivity in |
| teaching prop for students. Common uses of the | | | | different environments or objects is crucial |
| Geiger device also include checking for the presence | | | | nowadays. Radiation can be very hazardous if not |
| of radon in one's basement, detecting irradiated | | | | treated with care and a radiation detector is a must |
| gemstones in the jewelry business or finding | | | | have in any facility where leakages may occur. |
| contaminated objects and food. | | | | There's no doubt about it: Geiger counters are |
| The proper functioning of a radiation detector | | | | devices of immeasurable importance even now, after |
| requires several pre-determined stages. First of all, an | | | | almost one hundred years since they were invented. |