Emission of Gamma and Beta rays : Experimental Problem

In summary, the speaker is conducting an experiment to count Gamma and beta rays using a GM counter. However, they are not getting the expected results of an inverse square law for the distance. This could be due to the fact that the source and detector are not pointlike and their dimensions are comparable to the distance between them. The speaker suggests using a geometrical factor to account for this. Another speaker provides an integral equation to calculate the expected results, but it cannot be evaluated analytically. The original speaker thanks them for their answer and clarifies that there may be a logarithmic relationship between the number of counts and the distance.
  • #1
EsPg
17
0
Hi there!

The experiment: I'm counting Gamma and beta rays emitted from gamma and beta cylindrical sources, for counting I'm using a simple GM counter, which has nearly the same cylindrical shape (i mean diameter).
As we all know this are electromagnetic emissions, so they distance must obbey an inverse square law.

The problem: When I make the analysis of the data i don't get a -2 in the power of the distance, but a -1.48 exactly all the times. I'm guessing the problem is that the inverse square law applies for puntual emission, not for a "cylindrical" emission, as the one I'm using.

¿How can I solve the problem? I'm trying to get some geometrical factor that might let me get the inverse square law, but I'm not sure. If anyone knows, i'd love to listen.

P.D.: Greetings from Colombia
 
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  • #2
You need to more specific about the geometry involved. What is the shape of the source? How far apart are the source and detector? The inverse square law will hold if the separation distance is large compared to the size of the source.

Further question: the attenuation (particularly of beta) due to the atmosphere, assuming the space between source and dectector is simply air.
 
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  • #3
mathman said:
You need to more specific about the geometry involved. What is the shape of the source? How far apart are the source and detector? The inverse square law will hold if the separation distance is large compared to the size of the source.

Thanks for your interest.

For the source imagine a coin, only one side of the "coin" radiates. The detector has an opening of aproximately the same radius as the source. The distance varies from 1cm to 15cm more or less. I think this distances can't be taken as large compared to the source, since the diameter of it it's around 4 cm.
 
  • #4
You don't get inverse square law exactly, because your source and your detector are not pointlike and their dimensions are comparable with the distance between them. At close distances, you get fewer hits than predicted by inverse-square law.

If you plot log of hit count against log of distance, with perfect pointlike source and detector you'd get a straight line with a constant -2 slope (n = c*x^-2, therefore ln n = ln c - 2 ln x). With real-life equipment you get a curved line whose slope approaches -2 for high distances.

For an isotropic, homogeneous flat disk source and a perfectly efficient flat disk detector, coaxial and parallel to each other, the dependence should look like this

[tex]N \propto \int_0^r \int_0^r \int_0^{2 pi} \int_0^{2 pi} r_1 r_2 dr_1 dr_2 d\phi_1 d\phi_2 h / (h^2 + r_1^2 + r_2^2 - 2 r_1 r_2 cos (\phi_1 - \phi_2))^{1.5}[/tex]

where h is the distance between disks. Does not look like it evaluates analytically (not to me anyways - you can eliminate one of [tex]\phi[/tex] and that's about it), but numerical calculation confirms your slope ~-1.5 when h ~ r.
 
  • #5
Thank you, great answer. I haven't calculate the integral, but i believe you. Thanks again.
 
  • #6
Hamster, could you elaborate a bit on how you got to that integral? The denominator looks a bit like the cosine law.
 
  • #7
LennoxLewis said:
Hamster, could you elaborate a bit on how you got to that integral? The denominator looks a bit like the cosine law.

For any point (r1, phi1) on the surface of the emitting disk, what's the share of total radiation emitted by the vicinity of that point that ends up hitting the detector? If we assume that the emitter is isotropic, it's equal to the solid angle subtended by the detector disk at that point. To calculate the solid angle, we write down double integral over the surface of the detector. Solid angle subtended by an element of the detector (r2,phi2 ... r2+dr2, phi2+dphi2) is

[tex]r_2 dr_2 d\phi_2 cos(\theta) / l^2[/tex]

where l is the distance between (r1, phi1) on the emitter and (r2, phi2) on the detector, and [tex]\theta[/tex] is the angle between l and a normal to the surface.

[tex]cos(\theta) = h/l[/tex]

[tex]l^2 = h^2 + (r_1^2 + r_2^2 - 2 r_1 r_2 cos(\phi_1 - \phi_2))[/tex]
 
  • #8
Thanks, guy. Nice piece of analytical work.
 
  • #9
Yeah, that was great. Just one thing, I think it's not N what is proportional to the integral, but log(N). Please correct me if I'm wrong.
 
  • #10
What makes you think that?
 
  • #11
LennoxLewis said:
What makes you think that?

If you get only N, then you'd be saying that there is a lineal relation betwwen thenumber of counts and the distance. With log(N), the relation would be exponential, as it is.
 

1. What is the purpose of studying the emission of gamma and beta rays?

The purpose of studying the emission of gamma and beta rays is to better understand the behavior of these types of radiation and their effects on living organisms and the environment. This research can also help in the development of radiation detection and protection techniques.

2. How are gamma and beta rays emitted?

Gamma rays are emitted from the nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay, while beta rays are emitted from the nucleus as a result of a neutron breaking down into a proton and electron. Both types of radiation are high-energy and ionizing.

3. What are some experimental challenges in studying the emission of gamma and beta rays?

One of the main challenges is accurately measuring and detecting the radiation, as it can easily pass through most materials. Another challenge is controlling the exposure to the radiation, as it can be harmful to living organisms.

4. How do scientists protect themselves from gamma and beta rays during experiments?

Scientists use shielding materials such as lead or concrete to protect themselves from the harmful effects of gamma and beta rays. They also limit their exposure time and use proper protective gear, such as lab coats and gloves, when handling radioactive materials.

5. What are the potential applications of studying the emission of gamma and beta rays?

Studying the emission of gamma and beta rays has various applications in fields such as medicine, energy, and space exploration. It can be used for cancer treatment, power generation, and studying the composition of distant stars and galaxies.

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