GEIGER MULLER COUNTER

BY:
Samiksha Dhamarikar
 INTRODUCTION
• Hans Geiger developed the device in 1908 
• In 1928, Geiger and Walther Muller improved the
counter so that it could detect more types of
ionizing radiation.
•  Particle detector that measures ionizing
radiation
• The particles are usually beta and gamma rays,
but certain models can also detect alpha
particles.
 CONSTRUCTION

• The Geiger-Muller tube, which is a cylindrical

glass chamber filled with a mixture of an inert
gas (e.g. Neon at nearly 0.1 atm) and halogen.

• Two electrodes anode and cathode coated

with graphite.

• Anode is represented by wire in the centre

while cathode forms the lateral area.
• One end of the cylinder from which radiation
enters is sealed by Mica window.

• A high voltage supply for the tube.

• A scaler to record number of particles detected

by the tube

• The source consists of any radioactive material.

 WORKING

• As the radiation from the radioactive source

enters the gieger-muller tube through the mica
tube, it ionizes the gas inside it.
• The gas transforms into positively charged ions
and electrons.
• Eventually electrons move towards anode and
positively charged particles collide with the
remaining inert gas to form more ions, by
avalanche effect.
• This creates a short, intense pulse of current
between anode and cathode.

• This current is collected, amplified, counted and

displayed.

• The halogens present in the mixture prevent the

emission of secondary ions by quenching.
• Most tubes detect beta and gamma radiation of
about 2.5 MeV.

• To detect alpha particles mica window is used.

• Most G. M. Counters cannot detect neutrons as

they do not ionize.

• However, neutron sensitive tube can be

designed by coating the inner surface of the tube
with boron or boron-trifluride .
 SOURCES

Following radioactive materials are used to

detect various radiations:
• Alpha source-
Pu-239 or Am-241
• Beta source-
Sr-90
• Gamma source-
Co-60 with beta ray filter.
GRAPH BETWEEN COUNT AND APPLIED
VOLTAGE
 ADVANTAGES

• They are inexpensive.

• They are durable and easily portable.

• They can detect all types of radiation.

 DISADVANTAGES

• They cannot differentiate which type of radiation

is being detected.

• They cannot be used to determine the exact

energy of detected radiation.

• They have low efficiency.

 REFERENCES

• Wikipedia
THANK YOU