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CHAPTER#20

PHYSICS NOTES FOR DEVICES TO DETECT RADIOACTIVE PARTICLES GRADE 12 BY PROF.HAROON RASHEED KHAN

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PROF.HAROON RASHEED KHAN
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12 views23 pages

CHAPTER#20

PHYSICS NOTES FOR DEVICES TO DETECT RADIOACTIVE PARTICLES GRADE 12 BY PROF.HAROON RASHEED KHAN

Uploaded by

PROF.HAROON RASHEED KHAN
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Wilson cloud

chamber
WILSON CLOUD CHAMBER:
Wilson cloud chamber is used to
observe the path of ionizing
particles. It helps to examine the
mechanism of ionization of
various ionizing radiations and
the product of their interaction
with the material inside the
chamber.
CONSTRUCTION:
It consists of a closed cylindrical chamber with
transparent glass top T and a movable piston P light
at the bottom. On the sides near the top the cylinder
is provided with glass windows L for light and an inlet
I for the ionizing particles or radiations. The piston
can be moved up or down by a lower attached to it
before making the enclosed space above the piston
airtight enough quantity of low boiling point liquid
such as water or alcohol is introduced in the space
to produce its saturated vapours. A small quantity of
the liquid stay on the piston.
PRINCIPLE:
It works on the principle of
condensation of vapours on ions or
any other particles which are
present or formed by the passing of
ionizing particles. (such as ,  and
). These particles or ions acts as
the centers of condensation.
WORKING:
The piston is moved down suddenly (i.e
adiabatically) so that the saturated vapours
in the chamber becomes super saturated. At
the same time an ionizing particle is allowed
to enter the chamber through in let I. the
particle produces ions all along its path. The
super saturated vapours condense on the
ions in such a way that the ions acts as the
centers of condensation. This track can be
seen and photograph form the top if a beam
of light is projected in to the chamber
through the window L.
An  particle is highly ionizing the
ions produced are so numerous that
it tracks is a thick and continuous
line.
b particle is much less ionizing its
track is therefore a thin and broken
line.
 rays are photons emitted in a
widening cone of some angle.
They produce ionization by photo
electric effect distributed over a wide
space. Some of the photoelectrons
ejected by then give tiny line tracks in
random directions like the  particles
and scattered dots are produced the
 do not produce well defined.
.

IN THE MAGNETIC FIELD:


If the cloud chamber is placed in a
strong magnetic field which will bend
the paths providing information about
the charge, mass, energy of the
radiating particles, the charge to
mass ratio (e/m) etc. In this way, it
has helped in the discovery of many
new particles.
GEIGER COUNTER:
Geiger counter is a portable device
which is widely used for the detection
of ionizing particles or radiations.
CONSTRUCTION:
• It consists of a hollow metal cylinder one end of
which is closed by an insulating cap.
• At the center of the cap is fixed a stiff straight wire
along the axis of the cylinder.
• A thin mica or glass disc closes the other end
which also serves as the entrance window for the
ionizing particles or radiations.
• The sealed tube usually contains a special mixture
(air, organ, alcohol etc) at a low pressure of 50 to
100 millimeters of mercury.
• A potential difference of the order of one thousand
volts is applied between the metal cylinder and the
axial wire through a suitable series resistor R
(about 109 ohms).
• The potential difference is only slightly less than
that necessary to start a discharge between the
wire and the cylinder.
WORKING:
When an ionizing particle enters the tube
through the window it ionizes some gas
molecules in it. These ions are
accelerated by the strong radial electric
field producing more ions by collision with
the atoms and causing the ionization
current to build up rapidly. So 
momentary surging current flows
between the wire and the cylinder and
through resistor R producing a
momentary potential difference across R.
The ends of R are connected to a loud
speaker or an electronic counter. Thus
each time a particle enters the counter an
ionization current pulse occurs which
gives a click in the loudspeaker or a
count in the electronic counter. The
ionization current however decay rapidly
in small fraction of a second since the
circuit has a small time constant and the
counter is ready to register another
particle almost immediately.
.
In the case of ionizing radiations the
number of counts registered by the
counter measures the intensity or
ionizing power of the incident radiation.
SOLID STATE DETECTOR:

It is a device which is used to


detect the ionizing particles.
CONSTRUCTION:
• It consists of a semi conductor diode
(i.e the p-n junction)
• a resistor
• a battery.
• All the components are connected in
series as shown in the figure.
• The connections are made in such a
way that the p-n junction is reverse
biased.
WORKING:
When a energetic ionizing particle or
radiation passes through the junction it
ionizes the atoms of the region due to
which a reverse current pulse passes
through the diode. As a result of this
current a potential difference is produced
across the resistance R. the current pulse
is amplified and then applied to a loud
speaker or an electronic counter which
can register the number of clicks or
counts respectively.
ADVANTAGES:
Following are the advantages of solid state
detector over the Geiger counter.
1. Small cheap and light intensity
2. It works at low voltage up to 9 volts.
3. No earthling is required as required by
the Geiger counter.
4. It can detect particles having energy only
a few electron volts.

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