GLIWICE RADIOCARBON LABORATORY
Gas Proportional Counting Method
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| The system of gas proportional counters together with the electronic apparatus. The counters are surrounded by a shield of lead and iron to reduce the radiation reaching them. In addition, the stands are situated on the underground floor. The thickness of the ceiling is about 50cm. |
In the gas counting technique the sample is converted to CO
2 by combustion
of organic samples or by acid treatment of carbonates. After careful purification the
obtained CO
2 is introduced into the proportional counter directly for
the counting of beta particles from
14C decays. In the Gliwice
Radiocarbon Laboratory there are four assemblies of gas
proportional counters for measurement of radiocarbon concentrations.
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| On the left - a system of 3 small gas proportional counters (L4, L5 and L6), and above - the inside of this system. The three GPC counters (not visible) are surrounded by an anticoincidence (Geiger-Müller counters) and material shields. |
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| The system of the L3 gas proportional counter without the material shield. |
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