[LINK] Geiger counters hot -and- *confirmed* meltdowns in three of Fukushima's reactors

[Kim Holburn]

On 2011/May/27, at 5:18 PM, Rachel Polanskis wrote:

> On 27/05/2011, at 5:04 PM, Kim Holburn <kim at holburn.net> wrote:
> 
>> http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/27/3228865.htm
>> 
>>> Geiger counters sell out in Japan
>>> 
>>> By North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy
>>> 
>>> The hot, new, must-have item in Japan is not the latest smartphone or computer pad, but a geiger counter - a device that measures radiation.
>>> 
>>> After the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant this week confirmed meltdowns in three of the facility's reactors, geiger counters have sold out in most electronics shops.
>>> 
> 
> Geiger counters lose sensitivity after awhile, don't they?  That is to say, after a period
> of time detecting radiation, the device itself becomes radioactive and so can only
> detect surrounding  traces stronger than itself?  

Most Geiger counters work when ionising particles start an electric discharge in a tube filled with an inert gas.  Each discharge is counted.  If the stuff the tube was made of got radioactive enough it would create it's own particles and create a background count.  I think it would have to get pretty radioactive for that to happen.  I have no experience of this but I can't see that would be an issue unless you were using it for a long time in a very radioactive environment.    Also I can't see why you couldn't cover the outside of the Geiger tube with lead if it were an issue.

> If that is correct,  I imagine they would become useless.   What about disposable photographic
> labels?   Kodak went out of business, but here is a new market for emulsion!



-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
T: +61 2 61402408  M: +61 404072753
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
skype://kholburn - PGP Public Key on request