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Re: [Phys-l] Geiger counter



I recommend the more expensive RM80, which is a wide diameter tube. Also the "newer" software for windows (for years there was just the old DOS version) AND the device for adapting the output to a usb port so you can do the counting on a "new" computer (i.e. one that doesn't have a serial port). We've used the RM80 for years, Pasco and Vernier notwithstanding, to monitor the surprisingly high beta countrate that you get from a cotton pad after drawing air through it with a vacuum cleaner for a few minutes... presumably due to ionised bismuth and lead isotopes in the radon 222 decay series, that get stuck to the cellulose molecules... well described on the site. It's become one of the standard labs that we do.

Mark.
UWC Adriatic, Trieste, Italy.


On 29/03/2011 17:51, Steve Spicklemire wrote:
Also on the cheap side.. and great for hobby-type projects (computer interfacing, etc...) is the RM-60 geiger counter. (we use them for high-alititude balloon experiments)

http://www.aw-el.com/index.htm

Three wire interface: 5V, Gnd, and output (pulses) of tens of usec. I think the dead time is around 90 usec.

Current price is $180 or so.

No buttons or display... it's just a box. ;-)

-steve

On Mar 28, 2011, at 8:16 PM, phys-l-request@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu wrote:

Message: 5
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 08:20:24 -0700
From: "M. Horton"<scitch@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Geiger counter
To: "Forum for Physics Educators"<phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Message-ID:<FE554C4DF41D4BCDA6A1C5BEEF104FBB@mike2>
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reply-type=original

It's even cheaper on the Vernier website:
http://www.vernier.com/probes/drm-btd.html

Mike
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