How does a Geiger-Muller counter operate?

A Geiger-Muller counter operates primarily on the principle of detecting ionizing radiation, which includes alpha and beta particles as well as gamma rays. It consists of a Geiger-Muller tube filled with an inert gas, usually helium, neon, or argon, at low pressure. When ionizing radiation passes through the tube, it interacts with the gas atoms, causing ionization – meaning it knocks electrons off the gas atoms. This creates positively charged ions and free electrons.

The Geiger-Muller counter uses a high-voltage electric field within the tube. Once ionization occurs, the liberated electrons are accelerated towards the anode, leading to an avalanche of ionization events. This amplification results in a measurable electrical pulse. The counter then counts these pulses, which correlates with the level of radiation detected. This detected pulse is often translated into an audible clicking sound or a visual readout, providing a user-friendly way to gauge radiation levels.

In this context, the mention of detecting thermal radiation, scintillation processes, and sound waves pertains to different types of radiation detection technology. Thermal radiation is not detected by a Geiger-Muller counter, and scintillation counters utilize a different mechanism involving luminescent materials. Additionally, sound waves do not play