Radiation Detection and

Measurement
The operation of a gas-filled detector is based on
the ionization of gas molecules by radiation,
followed by collection of the ion pairs as charge or
current with the application of a voltage between
two electrodes. The measured charge or current
is proportional to the applied voltage and the
amount and energy of radiation, and depends on
the type and pressure of the gas.
Gas Filled Detectors Primary and Total Ionization

• fast charged particles ionize the atoms of a gas

• fraction of resulting primary electrons have
enough kinetic energy to ionize other atoms.
In summary then, here's what happens when a
Geiger counter detects some radiation:

• Radiation (dark blue) is moving

about randomly outside the
detector tube.
• Some of the radiation enters the window
(gray) at the end of the tube.
• When radiation (dark blue) collides with gas
molecules in the tube (orange), it causes
ionization: some of the gas molecules are
turned into positive ions (red) and electrons
(yellow).
• The positive ions are
attracted to the outside
of the tube (light blue).
The electrons are attracted to a metal wire (red)
running down the inside of the tube maintained
at a high positive voltage. As the electrons head
for the wire, some of them collide with other
gas molecules, splitting them into ions and more
electrons.
So we get a kind of chain reaction in which even
a single particle of radiation can produce
avalanches of electrons in rapid succession; this
process is known as a

Geiger discharge.
• Many electrons travel down the wire making a
burst of current in a circuit connected to it.
• The electrons make a meter needle deflect and, if
a loudspeaker is connected, you can hear a loud
click every time particles are detected. The
number of clicks you hear gives a rough indication
of how much radiation is present (the meter gives
you a much more accurate idea).
Before the counter can detect any more radiation, it
needs to be restored to its original state through a
process called quenching, which cancels out the
effects of the Geiger discharge. Sometimes that's
achieved by having a second gas (called a quenching
gas, often a halogen) inside the tube. Or it can be
done using an external circuit with a very
large resistance.