GeigerMüllerputkessa

The Geiger-Müller tube, commonly referred to as a Geiger counter or Geiger-Müller detector, is a device used for detecting and measuring ionizing radiation. Named after its inventors, Hans Geiger and Walther Müller, it operates on the principle of gas ionization caused by incoming radiation. The tube contains a gas, typically a noble gas like argon mixed with a small amount of a quenching agent such as halogen, enclosed between a central wire anode and a cylindrical cathode.

When ionizing radiation—such as alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays—enters the tube, it ionizes the gas atoms along its path, creating electron-ion pairs. The strong electric field between the anode and cathode accelerates these electrons toward the wire, producing further ionization through collisions with neutral gas atoms. This avalanche effect generates a detectable pulse of current, which is amplified and counted electronically.

The Geiger-Müller tube is widely used in various applications, including radiation monitoring, environmental testing, and industrial safety. Its simplicity and robustness make it a popular choice for portable radiation detectors. However, it has limitations, such as a dead time during which it cannot register additional counts and a reduced sensitivity to low-energy radiation.

The device is often paired with a scaler or digital display to quantify radiation levels, providing real-time readings in counts per second or other units. While modern solid-state detectors have largely replaced Geiger-Müller tubes in some applications due to improved efficiency and lower power consumption, the Geiger counter remains a fundamental tool in radiation detection and education.