Performance characteristics of thin point-to-plane alpha particle corona streamer counter in air

The present analysis shows that the operation of thin point-to-plane counter in air is based on the establishment of the stable corona mode. A complete analysis of this counter characteristics is presented. A theoretical model is suggested to calculate the counter operating voltage for different gap lengths. The effect of alpha particle source to point distance on the counter operating voltage is investigated. Operational alpha particle counting characteristics have been obtained. The variation of the counter efficiency as a function of the angular source position as well as source point distance are studied. The theoretical findings are experimentally confirmed.