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What is a Geiger Counter?

Published October 24, 2015 by Dan

There is a lot of confusion these days about what a Geiger Counter is and is not.  Amazonʻs handling of search terms and results for Geiger Counters is especially amusing, even comical at times.  Here is one result that came up for me on a recent Amazon search with the terms “geiger counter.”

Unicorn Meat

Whoa!  What does unicorn meat have to do with Geiger Counters?  Nothing I can think of.  But neither do the devices below that showed up on the same search:

Ghost Meter

The top instrument is designed to detect ghosts by measuring magnetic radiation.  The middle one is for measuring “electromagnetic frequencies.”  Well gamma radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is detected by Geiger Counters, but this is not a Geiger Counter and this instrument does not measure ionizing radiation – which is what Geiger Counters do.

Other instruments that show up under a Geiger Counter search include devices that use diodes, CCD camera sensors, other silicon sensors, ion chambers and scintillation detectors.

There are many kinds of radiation sensors.  It’s important to sort through the sometimes confusing  information that is out there to find what you really need – or you could end up with Unicorn Meat, if that really exists.

Geiger Counters are instruments that use Geiger Mueller sensors to detect ionizing radiation.  Ionizing radiation includes alpha, beta, gamma, x and neutron radiation, and also exotic particles from outer space such as leptons and muons.  Geiger Mueller sensors with mica windows can detect beta radiation, while those with thicker metal sidewalls cannot.  Geiger Mueller sensors with thin mica windows can also detect alpha radiation.

If you take a little time to think about what you need, and then do a little research, it can help you understand each instrument and what it is capable of and whether that matches your need.

 

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An Icon of the Geiger Counter World, Don Ludlum, 1932 to 2015

Published May 24, 2015 by Dan Sythe

In the world of Geiger Counters, Don Ludlum built quite a legacy.  Ludlum Instruments, founded by Don, is arguably one of the largest and most successful radiation detection companies in the world.  Ludlum Instruments has a strong reputation for quality and dependability.  Although I have known and respected many people from the Ludlum “family,” I never met Don.  I wish now I had taken the time to drive over to Sweetwater, Texas and shake his hand.  Everyone I have met who knew him describe him as a fair, honest and kind man.  He definitely left an impact in the world of radiation detection.   Condolences to all who knew and loved Don.  You can learn more about Don and Ludlum Instruments at ludlums.com.

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From Fukushima

Published March 24, 2015 by Dan

I am in Fukushima today, in the City of Koriyama for a Safecast Conference.

I have traveled here with Safecast people, who have been monitoring the environment for radiation contamination, and posting the data on the internet since 3.11.

Radiation Levels on Bullet Train Tokyo to Koriyama

When you say 3.11 here, everyone knows what you mean, like 9.11 in the U.S. 

The map here shows radiation data I collected on the train from Tokyo to Koriyama.  The levels were comparable with what is normal in California.

Iʻve written a lot about Safecast before.  A lot more can be easily found on the web.

Itʻs 4 years and 12 visits to Japan since I was first nvited – to help provide technical assistance after 3.11.   The whole experience is a big story, not really condensable by me into a blog post.  It has involved a lot of hard work and stress and lack of sleep by a lot of people.  It has also been incredibly enriching.  The people who have shown up to help here are really exceptional.  I think about what that means.  Ordinary people become exceptional when they show up to help their fellow human beings and the environment.  And this group is also very intelligent and technically proficient – and has really fully utilized the power of the internet to respond rapidly.

The people who chose to stay in Fukushima are working hard to recover and make the best of their lives.   Fukushima, I am told, means Happy Island, or Lucky Place.   I guess they are indeed lucky, in that (given the scale of the triple disaster) things could have gotten much worse.  Itʻs important to know that Fukushima is a large prefecture, and only parts of it are contaminated.

Safecast has worked hard for the people of Fukushima and Fukushima people have developed skills and technology to cope with 3.11 aftermath.  Now they are talking about being ready to help others if a disaster should occur somewhere else in the world.

Inspector Koriyama

Professor Kyoshi Kurukowa is with us and speaking on the stage to a large audience as I write this.   Kurukowa – San was asked by the Government of Japan to report on the Fukushima Daiichi event – to the Japanese Diet.  His report said a lot worth paying attention to.  Heʻs a wise man.

One thing he said in the report that sticks with me was that the nuclear accident was man made and preventable.  Not that the earthquake and tsunami was not a huge deal.  But that information that this could happen existed, and the appropriate actions, upgrades and repairs were put off until it was too late.

Dr. Kurukowa is finishing his presentation now, and ends his talk with: “Think about what you can do for the next generations, and do what you can for them.” 

Iʻm sure Safecast will post more about this conference at http://www.safecast.org.

The image at left is a reading with a Geiger Counter on a sample of soil under a downspout outside the conference center here.  It shows that, while great progress has been made, clean up will be ongoing.  The conference center itself and parking lot

did not show unusual levels of radioactivity.

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