Self Quenching In Geiger-Muller Counter

[uzair_ha91]

Can anyone explain the following (the capitalized text)?
"The ions of the quenching gas reach the cathode before the principal gas ions. When they reach near the cathode, THEY CAPTURE ELECTRONS (secondary?) AND BECOME NEUTRAL MOLECULES. FOLLOWING NEUTRALIZATION, THE EXCESS ENERGY OF THE QUENCHING MOLECULES IS DISSIPATED IN DISSOCIATION OF THE MOLECULES RATHER THAN IN THE RELEASE OF ELECTRONS FROM THE CATHODE. For example, bromine gas is added to neon gas. The BROMINE MOLECULES ABSORB ENERGY FROM THE IONS OR SECONDARY ELECTRONS AND DISSOCIATE INTO BROMINE ATOMS. THE ATOMS THEN READILY RECOMBINE INTO MOLECULES AGAIN FOR THE NEXT PULSE..."
(The example doesn't seem to clarify the given statements, rather it is adding more confusion)

 

[Zahid Iftikhar]

It's been copied from a textbook for grade-12, It is confusing. Can someone else help please.

 

[Zahid Iftikhar]

I agree with Uzair--- both of us seem from same country and facing the same problem-- our book does not clarify quenching.

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

What's the name of the textbook?

 

[Zahid Iftikhar]

It is Local Physics Text Book taught to grade 12 students as a course book. Not international edition. It is Physics XII published by Punjab Text Book Board Lahore Pakistan.

 

[mfb]

When charged neon hits the cathode, it can collect electrons, and with its large energy it can also kick out electrons that get accelerated away from the cathode.

When ions or those secondary electrons hit a bromine molecule, it can get split up, and the ions or electrons lose energy. A reduced energy means a smaller probability of releasing more electrons (or ions).
The single bromine atoms recombine to bromine molecules later.