TITLE:09.

STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GM TUBE

AIM: To study the variations of count rate with applied voltage and thereby determine the plateau, the
operating voltage and the slope of the plateau of a Geiger-Muller Tube (GM Tube).

APPARATUS:
1. G.M. Counting System GC601A / GC602A with A.C. main chord.
2. G.M Detector (End window) stand bench.
3. G.M. Detector (in PVC cylindrical enclosure) with connecting cable.
4. Gamma or Beta source.
THEORY:

The interaction between radiation and matter is accompanied by a number of effects such as the emission
of photons, charged particles and liberation of heat. All these effects can be used to detect radiation,
measure particle flux density or intensity and the radiation spectra. The operation of many measuring
devices is based on the ability of radiation to ionize molecules. Different types of detectors can be
characterized by the nature of the interaction of radiation with matter. Geiger-Muller Tube (G.M. Tube)
is one such detector which can be used to detect alpha particles, beta particles, gamma or X-radiation. A
G.M. tube is a gas-filled device which reacts to individual ionizing events, thus enabling them to be
counted. A GM tube consists of a very fine central anode and a shell, which serves as the cathode. The
region surrounding the anode is filled with a gas, usually argon or neon, specially selected for the ease
with which it can be ionized. A high electrical field is maintained between the electrodes.
The sensitive volume is the portion surrounding the anode responding to the specific radiation. An
energetic charged particle traversing through the sensitive volume will have high probability of producing
one or more ion pairs (electron and positive ion). The electron is accelerated towards the anode and in a
short distance, gains sufficient kinetic energy to produce a second ion pair in a chance encounter with a
gas atom.
These two electrons will now produce additional ion pairs and thus an avalanche is developed in which
an enormous number of electrons of the order of 1010 are eventually collected by the anode. This charge
which will be collected in about 0.25μs, appears across the capacitance of the tube plus the associated
circuitry to produce a voltage pulse of amplitude ranging from 0.25 to 10 volts with a duration of about
100 μs. These values depend upon the design of the tube, its operating voltage and the characteristics
of the external circuit. When the voltage across the tube is such that it is operating in the GM region, all
pulses are of equal size irrespective of the number of ion pairs formed in the initial ionizing event.

OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS of G.M. Tube:

1. Starting Voltage (Vs): This is the lowest voltage applied to a G.M. Tube at which pulses
just appear across the anode resistor and unit starts counting.
2. Plateau: This is the section of the GM characteristic curve constructed with counting rate
versus applied voltage (With constant irradiation) over which the counting rate is
substantially independent of the applied voltage. Unless otherwise stated, the plateau is
measured at a counting rate of a approximately 100 counts.
3. Plateau threshold voltage (V1): This is the lowest applied voltage which corresponds to
the start of the plateau for the stated sensitivity of the measuring circuit.
4. Plateau length: This is the range of applied voltage over which the plateau region
extends.
5. Upper Threshold voltage (V2): This is the higher voltage upto which plateau extends,
beyond which count rate increases with increase in applied voltage
6. Plateau Slope: This is the change in counting rate over the plateau length, expressed in % per
volt. It should have a slope of less than 10% per 100 volts for good tubes.
7. Recommended Supply Voltage: (Operating Voltage) This is the supply voltage at which
the G.M. Tube should preferably be used. This voltage is normally chosen to be in the
middle of the plateau.
8. Background (BG): This is the counting rate measured in the absence of the radiation source. The BG
is due to cosmic rays and any active sources in the experimental room

PROCEDURE:
1. Make the connection between counting system to G.M. Detector by MHV to UHF coaxialcable. Also
connect the mains chord from the counting system to 230V A.C. Power.
2. Place a Gamma or Beta source facing the end window of the detector, in the source holderof G.M.
stand or optical bench at about 2 cms (for Gamma source) or 4 cms (for Beta source) approximately,
from the end window of the detector. (For Beta source ensure thatcountrate is less than 200 CPS at
500V)
3. Now power up the unit and select menu options to PROGRAM on the keypad of the G.M.Counting
System and select 30sec preset time typically.
4. Now press – “START” button to record the counts and gradually increase the HV by rotating the
HV knob till such time, the unit just starts counting. Now, press “STOP” button.
5. Now take a fresh reading at this point (STARTING VOLTAGE) and record the observations in the
format as given in Table.
6. Also record for each HV setting, corresponding background counts without keeping the source.
7. Continue to take these readings in steps of 50V and for the same preset time, keep observing counts
& tabulate the data, with and without source.
8. Initially within 2 to 3 readings, counts will steeply increase and thereafter remain constant with
marginal increase (may be within 10%).
9. After few readings, one will find a steep increase as one enters the discharge region. Takejust one or
two readings in this region and reduce the HV bias to 0 volts. It is important to note that operating
the G.M detector in discharge region for longer time can reduce the life of tube or can result into
permanent damage of the detector.
10. Now tabulate the readings and plot a graph of voltage against corrected counts
11. Identify from the graph / tabulated data i) Starting Voltage ii) Lower threshold voltage (V1) iii)
Upper threshold voltage (V2). It is called Breakdown threshold voltage iv) Discharge region.
12. Calculate plateau, percentage slope, and plateau length, and operating voltage
OBSERVATION:

Background Corrected
Sr. EHT Counts/30sec
Counts/30secs Counts/30secs
No. (volts) N
Nb Nc = N –Nb

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

CALCULATIONS:

• V1 = Starting voltage of plateau= _____V(Just after rising edge of knee)

• V2 = Upper threshold of the plateau= ______V(Just before the start of discharge region)
• Plateau Length VPL = V2 – V1 =_______________ V
• Operating Voltage V0 = (V2 + V1) / 2 = _________________ V
• The slope of the plateau is given by
N2−N1 100
Slope (Percentage) = ( ) (V2−V1) (100) = ___________________
n1

RESULT: For the G.M Tube

1) The Operating voltage = V
2) The Plateau Length = ________V
3) Plateau Slope = _________
CONCLUSION:
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