The gaseous proportional counter is a device that can be used to detect ionizing radiation. These devices can be as simple as a cylindrical cathode and a very thin anode wire centered along its axis. By applying a high voltage, a strong electric field is generated close to the anode wire. Ion-pairs, generated by passing ionizing radiation, create avalanches once they drift into the strong electric field region near the anode. The electrical charges created by the avalanche generate an observable signal which is proportional to the energy loss of the incoming radiation. We discuss the construction of such a device. Our detector was built from an ordinary aluminum beverage can and uses a common electric wire strand as the anode. The construction of this detector offers students at universities or technically oriented high schools a detailed understanding of the design and operation of gaseous radiation detectors. The equipment required to complete the project should be available at most institutions.
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August 2015
APPARATUS AND DEMONSTRATION NOTES|
August 01 2015
A gaseous proportional counter built from a conventional aluminum beverage can
Alexander Winkler;
Alexander Winkler
Division of Material Physics, Department of Physics,
University of Helsinki
, Finland and Helsinki Institute of Physics, Finland
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Aneliya Karadzhinova;
Aneliya Karadzhinova
Division of Elementary Particle Physics, Department of Physics,
University of Helsinki
, Finland and Helsinki Institute of Physics, Finland
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Timo Hildén;
Timo Hildén
Division of Elementary Particle Physics, Department of Physics,
University of Helsinki
, Finland and Helsinki Institute of Physics, Finland
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Francisco Garcia;
Francisco Garcia
Helsinki Institute of Physics
, Finland
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Giacomo Fedi;
Giacomo Fedi
Division of Elementary Particle Physics, Department of Physics,
University of Helsinki
, Finland
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Francesco Devoto;
Francesco Devoto
Division of Elementary Particle Physics, Department of Physics,
University of Helsinki
, Finland and Helsinki Institute of Physics, Finland
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Erik J. Brücken
Erik J. Brücken
a)
Division of Elementary Particle Physics, Department of Physics,
University of Helsinki
, Finland and Helsinki Institute of Physics, Finland
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a)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
Am. J. Phys. 83, 733–740 (2015)
Article history
Received:
September 26 2013
Accepted:
June 10 2015
Citation
Alexander Winkler, Aneliya Karadzhinova, Timo Hildén, Francisco Garcia, Giacomo Fedi, Francesco Devoto, Erik J. Brücken; A gaseous proportional counter built from a conventional aluminum beverage can. Am. J. Phys. 1 August 2015; 83 (8): 733–740. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4923022
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