title: On the dead time problem of a GM counter.
abstract: Characteristics of the dead time of a Geiger-Müller (GM) counter was studied by using a decaying source method and tests were performed for two-parameter dead time models including the general models. Activated (56)Mn was used as the decaying source and the counting rates were observed in one minute steps for 20 half-lives using a GM probe and a multichannel scaler. Measured data were compared with predictions of a generalized dead time model, a dead time model of nonextending-extending (NE-E) types, and a model of extending-nonextending (E-NE) types in series. The NE-E series model described the measured counting rates better than the other models. The model rates were consistent with the data within 10% up to a true rate of approximately 10 kcps, however, its application in the region of higher counting rates was limited. Possible causes of this limitation are discussed. For practical purposes, a phenomenological model is suggested to describe measured counting rates above approximately 10 kcps.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Policy Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon 305-353, Republic of Korea. jhlee75@kaeri.re.kr
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D004868:Equipment Failure; D011874:Radiometry / Q000592:standards*