Geiger-Müller counter (redirected from Geiger-Muller counter)

Geiger-Müller (GM) counter

[gī′gər mil′ər]

Etymology: Hans Geiger, German physicist, 1882-1945; Walther Müller, twentieth century German physicist; Fr, conter, to tell

an electronic device that indicates the level of radioactivity of a substance by counting the number of ionizing subatomic particles emitted by the substance. As the particles pass through a gas-filled tube inside the counter, they ionize the gas and cause an electric discharge. The tube cannot identify the type or energy of a particle. Also called Geiger counter.

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counter [kown´ter]

an instrument or apparatus by which numerical value is computed; in radiology, a device for enumerating ionizing events.

Coulter counter an automated instrument for performing blood counts, based on the principle that cells are poor electrical conductors compared with saline solution.

Geiger counter (Geiger-Müller counter) a radiation counter using a gas-filled tube that indicates the presence of ionizing particles. It is very sensitive to β particles but relatively insensitive to γ and x-rays.

scintillation counter a device for detecting ionization events, permitting determination of the concentration of radioisotopes in the body or other substance.

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Geiger counter, Geiger-Müller counter

an amplifying device that indicates the presence of ionizing particles emitted by a substance; used as a means of determining the presence of radioactivity.