Scintillation Counter for the Detection of α-Particles

Abstract

A simple battery‐operated survey instrument has been developed which uses a photo‐multiplier tube to detect the scintillations produced in a phosphor by α‐particles. The electrical components are a 1100‐volt battery pack; a 931A photo‐multiplier tube; a matching transformer and headphones for registering single particles; and a crystal rectifier, choke, and meter for use with strong sources. The latter group of components are used in a novel ``charge‐multiplying'' circuit which increases the meter sensitivity by a factor of 12. The instrument is insensitive to β‐ and γ‐radiations.