Geiger-Mueller triode for sensing the direction of incident ionizing gamma radiation

A Geiger-Mueller triode directional sensor, comprising:

• a pair of opposing subchambers are separated by a partition composed of a first material;
• each of said subchambers, having a radiation window, an electrode, a gaseous mixture and said partition, creates an electrical field;
• a cylindrical housing, having a cap, a side wall adjacent to said radiation windows and composed of a second material permeable by gamma radiation and a base, encloses and seals said subchambers;
• said second material having an atomic number lower than said first material, said first material being a high atomic number material compatible with said gaseous mixture;
• said partition having an aperture for said gaseous mixture to communicate from one subchamber to another;
• incident gamma rays generate a plurality of secondary electrons in said side wall;
• said plurality of secondary electrons, being accelerated by said electrical fields, penetrate said outer radiation windows to generate Kapitsa secondary electrons causing ionization charges within said subchambers;
• said ionization charges producing a plurality of electrical charges collected by said electrodes;
• said sensor being rotatable;
• and
• a means to detect a signal receives the plurality of electrical charges and transmits a signal to a means for data processing to count said signals for determining a point of origin for said incident gamma rays and to eliminate a plurality of background radiation signals.

A method for sensing the direction of ionizing gamma radiation, comprising the steps of:

• creating an electrical field in a plurality of opposing subchambers;
• separating each of said plurality of subchambers by a partition composed of a first material;
• forming a housing from a second material, said housing having a sidewall;
• inserting a radiation window and a means for collection within each of said plurality of subchambers, said collection means including at least one electrode;
• injecting a gaseous mixture within said plurality of subchambers;
• sealing said plurality of subchambers in said housing, said sidewall being adjacent to said radiation windows;
• said second material being permeable by gamma radiation and having an atomic number lower than said first material, said first material being a high atomic number material compatible with said gaseous mixture;
• generating a plurality of secondary electrons in said sidewall from an incident gamma radiation;
• penetrating said outer radiation windows with said plurality of secondary electrons;
• generating Kapitsa secondary electrons to cause ionization charges within said plurality of subchambers to produce a plurality of electrical charges;
• collecting said plurality of electrical charges at said at least one electrode;
• rotating said housing;
• sending the plurality of electrical charges to a means to detect a signal;
• and
• transmitting a signal from said signal detecting means to a means for data processing to count said signals for determining a point of origin for said incident gamma radiation and to eliminate a plurality of background radiation signals.