I'm putting this in the Lounge to keep it semi-serious. Aside from eBay (and other similar sites), where should I search to purchase a Geiger counter? I want to get one for my physics teacher (he's an absolutely brilliant man, I could write an essay describing him), but I'm not sure where to start looking (again, aside from eBay/). He would be using it for educational use; he said earlier this year when we were studying radioactivity, if he could get ahold of one, he would buy rocks from various nuclear bomb test sites (I believe he has a rock from the Trinity sites), as well as test the outdoors, etc.

If any of you work with Geiger counters and could donate one (not personally, the company you work for), I would be glad to write up a letter asking for a donation. I figured this would be a neat way to say goodbye/thanks for everything...

Thanks.

[Edited on June 4, 2010 at 12:01 AM. Reason : ]

6/4/2010 12:00:49 AM

I didn't check the legitimacy of this site, but it's the first one that popped up in Google:
http://www.geigercounters.com/

6/4/2010 2:41:46 AM

Why are you opposed to eBay? I randomly saw one on there about a year ago, but didn't feel like spending $60 for it.

6/4/2010 3:43:49 AM

do the cat thing

tell us what happens, scientists still don't know

I'm AstralAdvent and i approved this message.

6/4/2010 7:25:15 AM

Bump.

6/4/2010 2:39:30 PM

lolwut~

6/4/2010 3:03:44 PM

lolwut~

6/4/2010 3:18:37 PM

http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/7745

6/4/2010 3:56:10 PM

http://www.imagesco.com/geiger/geiger-counter.html

http://www.radmeters4u.com/more.htm

http://www.anythingradioactive.com/geiger.htm

6/4/2010 4:06:14 PM

I actually just got an email from NC State about a summer program regarding nuclear chemistry that offers a geiger counter with the completion of the program. PM if you want more info...

6/4/2010 7:55:57 PM

What type of radiation are you trying to detect? If it's just beta and some low level gamma then a GM tube is fine. Do you care about the fill gas? If you are looking to use it for teaching I would suggest a pancake GM tube. It's what the industry uses to frisk objects/people when leaving an area with higher dose rates (ex. a fuel handling floor). Here is a little info:

http://www.nuclearsupplies.co.nz/catprod_Digital-Frisker.html

These types of detectors have a beep that is more or less pronounced as count rate varies. It seems like that would be something a high school physics class would be amused with.

If you are looking to detect higher level gammas I wouldn't worry about a GM tube. You are better off with a scintillation detector at that point. The cheapest option would be to just get a unit that detects Radon. Handy men use them daily for home inspections.

[Edited on June 4, 2010 at 9:16 PM. Reason : df]

6/4/2010 9:15:17 PM