Geiger counter

Named after Hans Geiger who developed the first such device in 1908 together with Ernest Rutherford.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɡaɪɡə ˈkaʊntə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɡaɪɡɚ ˈkaʊntɚ/

Geiger counter (plural Geiger counters)

1. A device designed to detect radioactivity and measure its intensity.
   • 1988 — David Halliday & Robert Resnick, Fundamentals of Physics (3rd ed.), p 387

     Figure 27 shows a Geiger counter, used to detect ionizing radiation. The counter consists of a thin central wire, carrying a positive charge, surrounded by a concentric circular conducting cylinder, carrying an equal negative charge.

• (device to detect radiation): Geiger-Müller counter