How does a Geiger-Müller tube work?

A Geiger-Müller tube detects ionizing radiation by measuring the ionization produced by the radiation.

A Geiger-Müller tube is a type of gas-filled detector that is used to detect ionizing radiation. It consists of a cylindrical metal tube filled with a gas such as helium, neon, or argon at low pressure. The tube has a central wire electrode and a cylindrical metal outer electrode. When ionizing radiation enters the tube, it ionizes the gas atoms, producing a shower of electrons and positive ions. The electrons are attracted to the central wire electrode, while the positive ions are attracted to the outer electrode.

The resulting current pulse is amplified and counted by an electronic circuit, which produces an audible click or a visual display. The number of clicks or counts per unit time is proportional to the intensity of the radiation. The tube is highly sensitive to ionizing radiation, and can detect alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.

The Geiger-Müller tube has a number of advantages over other types of radiation detectors. It is simple to use, relatively inexpensive, and can be made very compact. It is also highly sensitive to low levels of radiation, and can detect radiation from a wide range of sources. However, it has some limitations, such as its inability to measure the energy of the radiation, and its saturation at high radiation levels.