The extinction of discharges in Geiger-Muller counters

Abstract

The discharge in Geiger-Muller counters is discussed in terms of the Townsend theory. It consists of a series of electron avalanches, each avalanche being generated from photoelectrons ejected from the outer wall by the previous avalanche. At low currents the average number of photoelectrons per avalanche is small, and if the actual number for some avalanche happens to be zero, the discharge will stop. This accounts for the extinction of the discharge at low currents. The theory gives an exponential decay formula for the probability of the discharge lasting a given time, and the mean life-time increases exponentially with the current. This is in accord with Werner's experiments, and his numerical values are in good agreement with the theory.