Parallel-Plate Counters and the Measurement of Very Short Time Intervals

Author: Keuffel, Jack Warren

Year: 1948

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Neher, Henry Victor

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Physics; Mathematics

DOI: 10.7907/4e2d-tf84

Abstract

The counter characteristics of a discharge tube using plane-parallel electrodes have been investigated, particularly with regard to the short time lags inherent in the streamer type of spark which occur with such a geometry at near-atmospheric pressure. Construction details for parallel-plate counters with good counter characteristics are given. Spurious counts were minimized by an argonxylene filling mixture and the use of a univibrator quench circuit. The uncertainty in the reaction time of the counters is ±5x10-9 sec. Also described is a timing circuit which, in conjunction with the new counters, makes possible the measurement of time intervals between ionizing events to a precision of ±5x10-9 sec.

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