Radiation Detectors
GEIGER-MÜLLER DETECTOR
The number of electrons collected by a gas-filled detector varies as applied voltage is increased.
Once the voltage is increased beyond the proportional region, another flat portion of the curve
is reached; this is known as the Geiger-Müller region. The Geiger-Müller region has two
important characteristics:
The number of electrons produced is independent of applied voltage.
The number of electrons produced is independent of the number of electrons produced
by the initial radiation.
This means that the radiation producing one electron will have the same size pulse as radiation
producing hundreds or thousands of electrons. The reason for this characteristic is related to the
way in which electrons are collected.
When a gamma produces an electron, the electron moves rapidly toward the positively charged
central wire. As the electron nears the wire, its velocity increases. At some point its velocity
is great enough to cause additional ionizations. As the electrons approach the central wire, the
additional ionizations produce a larger number of electrons in the vicinity of the central wire.
As discussed before, for each electron produced there is a positive ion produced. As the applied
voltage is increased, the number of positive ions near the central wire increases, and a positively
charged cloud (called a positive ion sheath) forms around the central wire. The positive ion
sheath reduces the field strength of the central wire and prevents further electrons from reaching
the wire. It might appear that a positive ion sheath would increase the effect of the positive
central wire, but this is not true; the positive potential is applied to the very thin central wire that
makes the strength of the electric field very high. The positive ion sheath makes the central wire
appear much thicker and reduces the field strength. This phenomenon is called the detector’s
space charge. The positive ions will migrate toward the negative chamber picking up electrons.
As in a proportional counter, this transfer of electrons can release energy, causing ionization and
the liberation of an electron. In order to prevent this secondary pulse, a quenching gas is used,
usually an organic compound.
The G-M counter produces many more electrons than does a proportional counter; therefore, it
is a much more sensitive device. It is often used in the detection of low-level gamma rays and
beta particles for this reason. Electrons produced in a G-M tube are collected very rapidly,
usually within a fraction of a microsecond. The output of the G-M detector is a pulse charge and
is often large enough to drive a meter without additional amplification. Because the same size
pulse is produced regardless of the amount of initial ionization, the G-M counter cannot
distinguish radiation of different energies or types. This is the reason G-M counters are not
adaptable for use as neutron detectors.
The G-M detector is mainly used for portable
instrumentation due to its sensitivity, simple counting circuit, and ability to detect low-level
radiation.
Rev. 0
Page 43
IC-06
