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In this paper, the procedure for determination of the mean value of non-homogenous background radiation and the expression of measurement uncertainty is considered. The background radiation is described using the Student's distribution, and the measurement uncertainty using the Welch-Satterthwaite equation. The proposed algorithm was experimentally verified under well-controlled laboratory conditions and satisfactory results were obtained. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 171007]

In this paper we analyze application of contemporary methods of insulation co-ordination and the enlargement law in designing a GM counting tube. It has been shown that by applying insulation co-ordination methods the counting tube can be optimally dimensioned. The application of the enlargement law was demonstrated in generalizing the results of test obtained by the GM tube to those obtained by the counting tube with m-times greater dimensions. The investigations were conducted both theoretically and by experiment. Using theoretical analysis, we derived the expressions that may be applied if a performance function of a random variable breakdown voltage is known. The experiments were conducted on a GM counter model under well controlled laboratory conditions.

This paper investigates, through theory and experiment, the influence of the plain-parallel electrode surface dimensions change on the type A measurement uncertainty of a GM counter. The possibilities of applying these results to practical structures are examined by using the methods of mathematical statistics. Special attention is devoted to the influence of electrode surface enlargement on the statistical behavior of the pulse number random variable, expressed in the form of the enlargement law. In the theoretical part of the paper, the general surface enlargement law is derived. Comparison of experimental results with those predicted by the surface enlargement law proved its validity for expressing the type A measurement uncertainty of GM counters constructed with a plain-parallel electrode configuration with a homogenous electric field.

GM counters are often used in radiation detection since they generate a strong signal which can be easily detected. The working principal of a GM counter is based on the interaction of ionizing radiation with the atoms and molecules of the gas present in the counter's tube. Free electrons created as a result of this interaction become initial electrons, i. e. start an avalanche process which is detected as a pulse of current. This current pulse is independent of the energy imparted on the gas, that being the main difference between a GM counter and the majority of other radiation detectors. In literature, the dependence on the incidence of radiation energy, tube's orientation and characteristics of the reading system are quoted as the main sources of measurement uncertainty of GM counters. The aim of this paper is to determine the dependence of measurement uncertainty of a GM counter on the volume of its counter's tube. The dependence of the pulse current on the size of the counter's tube has, therefore, been considered here, both in radial and parallel geometry. The initiation and expansion of the current pulse have been examined by means of elementary processes of electrical discharge such as the Markov processes, while the changes in the counter's tube volume were put to test by the space - time enlargement law. The random variable known as the 'current pulse in the counter's tube' (i. e. electrical breakdown of the electrode configuration) has also been taken into account and an appropriate theoretical distribution statistically determined. Thus obtained theoretical results were then compared to corresponding experimental results established in controlled laboratory conditions.

This paper deals with possible ways of obtaining expanded and combined uncertainty in measurements for four types of GM counters with a same counter’s tube, in cases when the contributors of these uncertainties are cosmic background radiation and induced overvoltage phenomena. Nowadays, as a consequence of electromagnetic radiation, the latter phenomenon is especially marked in urban environments. Based on experimental results obtained, it has been established that the uncertainties of an influenced random variable ′number of pulses from background radiation′ and ′number of pulses induced by overvoltage′ depend on the technological solution of the counter’s reading system and contribute in different ways to the expanded and combined uncertainty in measurements of the applied types of GM counters.

This paper discusses the influence of radiation energy and angle of incidence as possible sources of uncertainties in measurements performed by GM counters. Based on the detection efficiency of GM counters, it has been concluded that the energy of incident radiation does not contribute to the overall uncertainty. The angle of incident radiation does contribute to overall uncertainty, but only in the case of gamma radiation detection. In that case, the uncertainty should be determined by using geometrical probability.