Giger Muller Counter or (GM counter)

Principle

The GM counter would contain Geiger-Müller tube, which sense and detects the radiation
through the electronics processes that would provide the result.

Atomic radiations Power

supply
Photo Multiplier tube

Output sound
or reading

The Geiger-Müller tube is filled with a gas such as helium, neon, or argon at the pressure being
the lowest. The high voltage of electrical charge in the tube was achieved by the DC power
supply. The particle or photon of incident radiation would turn the gases in the tube to
conductive ions by the means of collision.

Geiger counter Types:

The Geiger counter is dictated entirely by the design of the tube, can be generally categorized
into two types:

1. End Window
2. Windowless

End Window:

This style of the tube would have a small window at one of its ends. This window would be
helpful in ionizing the particles that could travel easily.

Windowless:

As the name suggests, this type of tube would not have any windows and the thickness would be
in the range of one to two mm. This type of tube is used for detecting high penetrating radiations.
Experiment (Working procedure)

Figure: Schematic diagram of Geiger Muller counter

1. Radiation moving randomly outside the detector

2. Some of the radiation (α and β) enters the Quartz window at the end of the tube.
3. When radiation collides with gas molecules in the tube, it causes ionization: some of the gas
molecules are turned into positive ions (+ve) and electrons (-ve).
4. The positive ions (+ve) are attracted to the walls of the tube.
5. The electrons are attracted to a metal wire running down the inside of the tube maintained at
a high positive voltage.
6. 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.
7. Many electrons travel down the wire making a burst of current in a circuit connected to it.
8. 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).
9. 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.
Applications

 For the detection of alpha and beta particles

 To detect radioactive rocks in the process of mineral collection
 To check for environmental levels of radioactivity
 For fire and police first responders to a analysis for making an initial determination of
radiation risk