Detection of Alpha Radiation using Geiger-Mueller Counter Geiger counters are mainly used for portable instrumentation due to its sensitivity, simple counting circuit, and ability to detect low-level radiation. Geiger counters are mainly used for portable instrumentation due to its sensitivity, simple counting circuit, and ability to detect low-level radiation.

How do alpha particles get detected?

1. To detect the alpha particles only, a spark detector 6 is used because it is insensitive to the γ and x-rays also given off by the 241Am source.

How is the alpha particle best identified?

Alpha radiation has been identified as helium nuclei that have been stripped of their planetary electrons, and each consists of two protons and two neutrons. α particles thus have a mass of about 4 amu (6.642×10−4 g) each and a positive charge of 2.

How do you identify alpha and beta particles?

Alpha denotes the largest particle, and it penetrates the least. Alpha particles carry a positive charge, beta particles carry a negative charge, and gamma rays are neutral. An alpha particle is made up of two protons and two neutrons bound together. Beta particles are high energy electrons.

Are alpha particles easy to detect?

Alpha radiation detection is notoriously time consuming and difficult to carry out due to the short range of alpha particles in air.

How do you detect beta particles?

For detection of beta particles, organic scintillators can be used. Pure organic crystals include crystals of anthracene, stilbene and naphthalene. The decay time of this type of phosphor is approximately 10 nanoseconds. This type of crystal is frequently used in the detection of beta particles.

How does alpha spectrometry work?

Alpha spectroscopy is used to identify and quantify radionuclides based on the alpha particles emitted in the decay process. Similar to Gamma Spectroscopy, energy spectra are generated with high precision alpha particle detectors and electronics and analyzed with special software.

How is alpha radiation measured?

For alpha radiation, the quality factor is taken as 20, that is, rems equal 20 times rads. Rem is essentially a measure of biological damage. For neutrons, Q is typically taken as 10. A unit of equivalent absorbed dose equal to 100 rem.

What is the identity of an alpha particle?

An alpha-particle is identical to the nucleus of a normal (atomic mass four) helium atom i.e. a doubly ionised helium atom. Alpha particles (also termed alpha radiation or alpha rays) was the first nuclear radiation to be discovered, beta particles and gamma rays were identified soon after.

How is gamma radiation detected?

Gamma rays are detected by observing the effects they have on matter. A gamma ray can collide with an electron and bounce off it like a billiard ball (Compton scatter) or it can push an electron to a higher energy level (photoelectric ionization).