Plateau characteristics of Geiger Counters with respect to different gas mixtures and pressures

Author

Ralph E. Lee

Abstract

"The section of a Geiger Counter is characterized by the so-called plateau curve. In this curve the counting rate of a given counter is plotted as a function of voltage, when the gas which it contains and the radiation to which it is exposed are both kept the same. These curves are characterized by a rapid rise beyond the starting potential (potential at which the counter begins to respond) until a more or less flat region is reached. This flat region is called the plateau of the curve. The slope and width of the plateau curve are dependent upon the kind of gas used to fill the counter, the pressure of the gas, and the mechanical construction of the counter. The plateau slope of a perfect counter would be zero, and the counting rate would be independent of voltage fluctuations, but zero slope is not possible because of the occurrence of spurious counts which originate inside the counter. The term "selfquenching counter" has been applied in recent years to the types of Geiger Counters in which the discharge terminates because of a process inside the counter. These counters do not go into continuous discharge except at high voltages. In order that a counter may operate as the selfquenching type it must be filled with a certain minimum amount of a polyatomic gas as a constituent. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of filling a counter with various polyatomic gases and helium. A search was made for a gas mixture to fill the counter which would give a high count per minute and still have desirable plateau characteristics"--Introduction, page 1-2.

Advisor(s)

Fuller, Harold Q., 1907-1996

Department(s)

Physics

Degree Name

M.S. in Physics

Publisher

Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy

Publication Date

1949

Pagination

v, 41 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 76-79).

Rights

© 1949 Ralph Edward Lee, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

GasesGeiger-Muller countersHelium

Thesis Number

T 821

Print OCLC #

5977221

Electronic OCLC #

669197244

Recommended Citation

Lee, Ralph E., "Plateau characteristics of Geiger Counters with respect to different gas mixtures and pressures" (1949). Masters Theses. 4836.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/4836