Note: CPM stands for Counts per Minute

In this experiment, we have our alpha-capable geiger counter on top of a tall piece of furniture, approximately 1 meter away. At this distance, the counter should not be able to detect alpha particles even with nothing between the source material and the geiger counter up high. The pancake sensor (a small circular window at the back of the counter) is facing away from where the sources are going to be placed so it can't "see" them. Four small cubes of uranium blend minerals (torbernite, kasolite, uranocircite and uranophane) are stacked besides the piece of furniture but right below. They are moved slowly to this location, cube by cube. The counter starts with a base level of 35-42 counts per minute (0.1usv). One cube is placed down below. The green led picks up pace and flashes a little bit more actively but the base level is still low at 45-52 counts per minute. After one minute of being left there, the count is steadily 55-65 counts per minute. Then a second cube is placed below the furniture and left for one minute. For reasons unknown, the count actually falls with the second cube, and the green led does not flash as actively. After a further minute, the third cube is placed. The count returns to a base level of between 55-65 counts per minute but with more "quiet" breaks between. At one moment it hits 72 counts per minute but sinks back down again to 53cpm after a few seconds. Again, we see the geiger counter return to a lower base level in the high 40's, but with moments of sudden bursts of activity. The final cube is added to the cluster. It doesn't immediately shoot life into the counter, but around 25 seconds in, it starts to react and the green led flashes hastily, hitting new highs of 84cpm and then sinking to 64cpm, but mostly hovering between the two at 75cpm. There are points where the count dropped all the way down to the base level it had right at the start.

This inconsistent, almost random but actually quite predictable result is indicative of gamma particle bursts. We know that alpha particles cannot pass through the solid plastic cubes the source materials are being held in (I didn't mention the type of material the cubes were made from at the start, but I have reasons), beta particles might be able to escape but then they also have to travel through air for 1meter, and then pass through the bottom-side of some furniture. Now we can imagine ourselves minding our own business, sitting next to a powerful alpha source that is 1 meter away in a sealed container. We might think this is reckless and endangering by being so close, but in reality it's barely even emitting above background levels despite releasing gamma particles. 

Reasons for the anomalous drop of counts caused by adding the second cube to the cluster could be due to obscuration (placed in such a way as to alter the path of decay particles emitted from the first cube), or possibly geiger counter inaccuracies or dead-time, though the latter is unlikely at such a low. relatively passive count. Another possibility is also hardware related; data transfer cable. Where the geiger counter is placed, the cable must flex across the surface of the furniture and it's also a much longer cable (2m) so that it can reach. This test was done with the GQ GMC 600+, when time allows I will also replicate the test with the GMC 500+.

This is a test scenario yet to happen. The plan is to leave exposed a large piece of alpha source material that also produces gamma radiation in small amounts. We want to see the "Compton Scattering" principle in action; this is where gamma radiation is not bounced off a hard surface like a rubber bouncing ball off a glass window, rather diffused, partially absorbed and split into different directions when it comes into contact with a thick, hard surface.

To get a positive Compton Scattering result, we need our second geiger counter's count rate to increase upon closing the door which is acting as a scattering barrier. The first counter, a GMC 600+, is measuring only particles that pass through the wooden door. The second counter, a GMC 500+, is placed directly at the bottom corner of the door as it intersects with the floor while open. It is entirely possible that the wooden door will not be a sufficient material to demonstrate scattering in a measurable amount. Despite this, the test will be carried out to see if we get anything at all, no matter how small.

Typically, isotopes with a fairly short half-life (the time it takes for half of the elements particles to be lost to decay) and that emit predominantly BETA and GAMMA radiation are the ones that occur as weapons or fuel, and you shouldn't find them in nature (and if you do, that's called an Orphan Source, and that's a whole other issue that might put your life at risk!)

Iodine-131: Accumulates in the human thyroid, causing thyroid cancer. It decays into xenon-131, a stable and non-radioactive element. Half life: 8 days

Cesium-137: Linked to contamination of bovine dairy products and meat at the point of the Chernobyl accident. Spreading on winds, it was even detected in reindeer herds living in Scandinavia. Much like iodine-131 and any other radioactive element, it's prone to biological accumulation and will increase cancer rates anywhere humans or animals come into contact with it. Cesium-137 decays by BETA decay, into barium-137m, which then further decays into a stable form of barium-137 by emitting GAMMA particles. Half life: 30.7~ years

Strontium-90: A heavy BETA emitter of which its secondary product is also hazardous; Yttrium-90. Strontium-90 is a byproduct of nuclear detonation and is often detected by unsuspecting surveyors with geiger counters, which is a clue that either a power plant has suffered a meltdown or nuclear testing is taking place. Strontium-90 is a mimic of Calcium, which the human body mistakes as a useable mineral to aid in teeth and bone repair, but ultimately accumulates as a fatal error. It's also a major contaminant of field crops and water sources. Half life: 28.8~ years

Cobalt-60: A speciality of medicine and scientific research, it emits powerful gamma rays so is a potent core for cancer treatment machines. It's been responsible for many cases of negligent disposals of hospital machines, leading to them being dismantled and the Cobalt-60 capsule inside exposing everyone in the vicinity. It becomes nickel-60 when it decays into a permanent stable element. Half life: 5.27~ years

A GQ GMC 500+ Geiger Counter