Modular DIY Geiger–Müller counter
The Geiger–Müller counter is a relatively simple tool to measure ionizing radiation. To increase sensitivity, construction presented here contains three (instead of one as usually) soviet STS-5 lamps. This is important for measurements of natural sources of (low) radiation like soil, rocks (an article about my trip with Geiger–Müller counter on Śnieżka mountain).
When high voltage (typically 380-420V) is applied to the Geiger–Müller tube, the tube doesn’t conducts electricity, but it does conducts for a short period, when radiation particle is observed. Those pulses are observed by the detector. The level of ionizing radiation is proportional to the amount of pulses detected in a constant interval of time (typically from 20s to 2,5min).
Let’s go further into the details. Geiger–Müller tube is made of two electrodes, ionizing particle creates a spark gap between them, to reduce amount of current that flows in this situation, a resistor is put in series with the tube. Marked as R1 on above circuit, R6 on below. Typically it’s in a range 1-10M, acceptable values are listed in documentation of the GM tube.
There are a different ways to obtain a signal from the tube, in presented here, a resistor is connected in series between the tube and ground, changes of the voltage on the resistor are measured by the detector. This resistor is marked as R2 on above diagram, R7 on below. Typically it’s in a range 10-220k.
Similarly to diode, a Geiger–Müller tube has its polarity, when connected in the opposite direction it will work incorrectly.
Below is shown a signal from GM tube when a particle is detected. Periodic spikes are from HV supply (DC/DC converter).
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