| Student Manual |  In this experiment students work with radioactive sources and radiation detection apparatus. They perform quantitative measurements of the properties of these sources. |
| Software Code | Absorption |
| Sample Results | Experimentally achieved histogram overlaid with the Poisson distribution for the gamma source |
| Experiment Code | 1.10 |
| Version | 3rd November 2015,2015-v3 |
Further Readings and References
- RadioactivityModern physics, Thomson Learning, Inc., Serway, Mosses and Moyer, 479, (2005).
- Example taken from Boas’s bookMathematical methods in the physical sciences, M. L. Boas, 729, .
- RadioactivityIntermediate atomic and nuclear physics, St. Martin's Press. New York, A. W. Harrison, 116, (1966).
- Radioactive decayConcepts of Modern Physics, McGraw-Hill companies, Arthur Beiser, 419, (2003).
- About the Poisson DistributionStatistics methods and applications, Dr. M. Afza Beg, 198, .
Pictorial Procedure
1. Provided apparatus
2. GM Counter
3. Connect power cable to the AC mains, turn VOLTAGE ADJUST knob anti-clockwise and press POWER button
4. Press VOLTS button 6 times till LED behind blinks
5. Set 900V through VOLTAGE ADJUST knob
6. Accessing the Geiger software
7. Bar graph screen of Geiger software
8. Measurement menu for selecting a specific time interval
9. Exporting a file; click image for clarity
10. Saving the .txt file; click image for clarity
11. loading the .txt file in MATLAB; click image for clarity
12. Mounting a source holder
13. Measuring the thickness of an absorbing sheet
14. Measure the distance (d) between source and GM tube
15. Placing an absorbing sheet between the source and detector