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Introduction to Health Physics: Fourth Edition - Ruang Baca FMIPA UB

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HEALTH PHYSICS INSTRUMENTATION 433<br />

Figure 9-5. Alpha and alpha–beta counting rates as a function of voltage in a proportional counter.<br />

Figure 9-5 shows the alpha and alpha–beta plateaus of a proportional counter.<br />

A GM counter <strong>to</strong>o has a wide range of operating voltages over which the counting<br />

rate is approximately independent of the operating voltage. This plateau extends<br />

approximately from that voltage which results in pulses great enough <strong>to</strong> be passed by<br />

the discrimina<strong>to</strong>r <strong>to</strong> that which causes a rapid increase in counting rate that precedes<br />

an electrical breakdown of the counting gas. In the Geiger region, the avalanche is<br />

already extended as far as possible axially along the anode. Increasing the voltage,<br />

therefore, causes the avalanche <strong>to</strong> spread radially, resulting in an increasing counting<br />

rate. We therefore have a slight positive slope in the plateau, as shown in Figure 9-6.<br />

Figures of merit for judging the quality of a counter are the length of the plateau,<br />

the slope of the plateau, and the resolving time (discussed later). The slope is usually<br />

given as percentage increase in counting rate per 100 V:<br />

(C2 − C1)<br />

C1<br />

Slope =<br />

× 100. (9.2)<br />

0.01(V2 − V1)<br />

Figure 9-6. Operating characteristics of a Geiger-Müller counter.

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