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