Experiment

To determine Characterization of a Geiger-Muller (GM) Tube using GM counter (without

source).
Objectives:
 To become familiar with radioactive counting techniques using gas filled counters.
 To determine the plateau and operating voltage and the resolving time of a Geiger-Muller counter.
 To study the characteristics of GM counting system.
 To determine the efficiency of a Geiger-Muller counter.
 To verify the inverse square relationship between the distance and intensity of radiation.
 To determine the maximum energy of decay of a beta particle.
Apparatus:
GM tube, GM tube holder, timer-scalar & frequency meter, power supply, voltage knob, count knob, reset
switch, stop watch & power supply.
Theory:
Geiger-Muller counter is used to measure the intensity of the radioactive radiation. When nuclear radiations
pass through gas, ionization is produced. This is the principle of this device. It was introduced in 1928 by
Geiger and Muller.
Its Construction is: a typical Geiger Muller (GM) Counter consists of a GM tube having a thin mica end-
window which act as a cathode and fine tungsten wire along the axis of the tube which act as anode, a high
voltage supply for the tube, a scalar to record the number of particles detected by the tube, and a timer which
will stop the action of the scalar at the end of a preset interval.
The Geiger-Muller tube (GM) tube is filled with 90 % an inert gas like argon and 10 % methane gas at a
low pressure. One end is fitted with a thin mica sheet and this end acts as a window through which radiations
enter the tube. A high potential difference is applied between the electrodes through a high resistance R.
When an ionizing radiation enters the counter, primary ionization takes place and a few ions are
produced. These ions are accelerated with greater energy due to the high potential difference and they cause
further ionization and these ions are multiplied by further collisions. Thus an avalanche of electrons
(electron avalanche is a process in which a number of free electrons in a transmission medium are subjected
to strong acceleration by an electric field and subsequently collide with other atoms of the medium, thereby
ionizing them (impact ionization)) is produced in a short interval of time.
This avalanche of electrons on reaching the anode and generates a current pulse and produce the potential
difference when passing through resistance R. This is amplified by electronic circuits and is used to operate
an electronic counter. The counts in the counter is directly proportional to the intensity of the ionizing
radiation. But the ionization of the gas is independent of the type of the incident radiation. Hence, G.M.
counter does not distinguish the type of radiation that enters the chamber.
Background characteristics: This is the counting rate measured in the absence of the radiation source. The
background is due to cosmic rays and any active sources in the experimental room.
Characteristics Curve of GM counter:
For a giving radioactive source or without radioactive source, the number of counts per mint record by
scalar depends on the voltage of the electrodes of GM tube. We would note that the number of counts
increase proportionally with a applied voltage. Due to further increase in voltage causes maximum gas
ionization which is collected by collector and we obtain a constant count rate in this region. This the working
region of GM counter where all ion pairs are being collected by the tube to convert them into useful signals.
Procedure:

 The G.M. Counter is connected to the G.M. tube, which is mounted on a stand (vertical mount).
 Connect the GM tube with timer scalar as shown in fig.
 The G.M. Counting system is switched ON and the counter is reset to ZERO by using reset switch.
 No any radioactive source is used. It performed only for background characteristics.
 All knobs are at their minimum positions.
 By rotating the voltage knob increase the voltage, I note that it remain on zero.
 Set the counter knob at count 10 .
 Set the voltage at 300 at first then increase step by step up-to 475 V maximum.
 After some time during rotating the voltage knob it increased suddenly.
 Counts started at 350 V, this voltage is known as threshold voltage. (The voltage at which the Counts
start recorded is called the Threshold Voltage.)
 Reset the counter by using reset switch and took several values.
 After waiting two minutes find the total counts and say using stopwatch.
 Again after two minutes find the total counts say at the same value of voltage.
  Take the average of these both counts.
 By repeated same as above, took several values of voltage and its corresponding no. of counts in two
minutes.
 Find the count rate by N/t.
 Draw the graph between voltage (taken along x-axis) and count rate (taken along y-axis)
 Measure the characteristics curve of background.
 Find the slop of plateau by using the relation.
− 100
= × × 100 %
−

Diagrams:
Record:

Applied Total no. of counts in 2 minutes ×

No. of
Voltage Count rate
Obs. Mean (N)
(V) N/t ×
Volts T
1 300 0 0 0 0
2 312.5 0 0 0 0
3 325 0 0 0 0
4 337.5 0 0 0 0
5 350 3 2 2.5 1.25
6 362.5 38 35 36.5 18.25
7 375 40 34 37 18.50
8 387.5 37 40 38.5 19.25
9 400 36 41 38.5 19.25
10 412.5 46 39 42.5 21.25
11 425 90 80 85 42.50

Calculations and Observations:

By Using graph we have
N = 18.25 × 10 , V = 362.5 V
N = 21.25 × 10 , V = 412.5 V
N = 0.5462
Now the Slop of Plateau can be found by
− 100
= × × 100 %
−
ℎ
(21.25 − 18.25) × 10 100
= ×
18.25 × 10 50
Slop of Plateau = 0.3288 %

Graph:

45

40

35

30
Count rate (N/t) ×10*3

25

20

15

10

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450
-5
Applied Voltage (V)
Conclusion:
We conclude from the graph threshold voltage and breakdown voltage and then compute the slop of Plateau.
Also graph confirms the background characteristics of cosmic rays.
Precautions:
 Ensure that the Counter is reset to zero before starting a fresh count.
 Don’t increase the applied voltage more than 440 V.
 Do not touch the end window of the G.M. tube.
 Before switch ON / OFF the timer-scalar all knobs must be at their minimum positions.
Questions:
Q.1 What is a GM counter ?
Ans: A device which is used for detection and counting of charged particles is called GM counter.
Q.2 What do you mean by Geiger threshold ?
Ans: The point above which the count rate becomes almost independent of the applied voltage is known as
Geiger threshold.
Q.3 Define breakdown voltage ?
Ans: The voltage at which current increases abruptly as voltage is increased. This voltage is known as
breakdown voltage.
Q.4 Define Geiger Plateau ?
Ans: The range between minimum and maximum voltage over which the GM tube will operate properly is
called the Geiger Plateau.
Q.5 Define operating voltage & applied voltage ?
Ans: The voltage at which GM counter (or any electrical component or device) is designed to operate or at
which it normally operates , is called operating voltage.
The actual voltage given to the GM counter (or any electrical component or device) is known as applied
voltage.
Q.6 Why must the GM tube be operated in the plateau region ?
Ans: Because the count rate in this region does not change appreciably with the tube voltage and therefore
this is the safest limit for the operation of GM tube.
Q.7 why tungsten is used in GM counter ?
Ans: Tungsten is used in GM counter because it is a stable material. Its melting and boiling points is so high.
Q.8 Why mica window is used ?
Ans: The mica window allow to pass some specific radiations / rays due to it is used.
Q.9 What is meant by electron avalanche ?
Ans: Electron avalanche is a process in which a number of free electrons in a transmission medium are
subjected to strong acceleration by an electric field and subsequently collide with other atoms of the medium,
thereby ionizing them.
Q.10 Why argon and methan gases are used ?
Ans: Argon gas (90%) and methan gas (10%) are used to produce the photonic current and ionization
respectively.
Q.11 Define relative slope of a plateau for a GM tube ?
Ans: It is defined as the average percentage change in the counting rate per unit increment of applied
voltage.
Q.12 What is meant by characteristic of GM counter ?
Ans: It is a curve obtained by plotting applied voltage between the electrodes of GM counter and the number
of counts per minute.
Q.13 What do you understand by a scalar ?
Ans: It is a device which directly records the counts of the GM counter tube pulses.
Q.14 What is background effect ?
Ans: The Geiger counter responds to cosmic rays and radioactive contaminations even in the absence of
artificial radioactive source and this is called background effect.
Q.15 What do you understand by dead time of a GM counter ?
Ans: It is the interval which is required for the counter to become sensitive to another incoming radiation.
 Diode Characteristic

Half Wave Rectifier (apparatus setup)

 Graph From Oscilloscope for Half Wave Rectifier

Full Wave Rectifier without Transformer (apparatus setup)

Graph From Oscilloscope for Full Wave Rectifier without
Transformer
Full Wave Rectifier with Transformer (apparatus setup)

Graph From Oscilloscope for Full Wave Rectifier with

Transformer