All Categories
History
This section provides an overview for proportional counters as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 4 proportional counter manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked proportional counter companies as of January, 2025: 1.Global Nucleonics., 2.PHOTONIS, 3.Canon Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd..
Table of Contents
A proportional counter is a type of radiation detector. It detects radiation by measuring the number of electrons (electric current) produced by the ionization of gas molecules when energetic particles pass through a gas.
Ionization chambers and GM (Geiger-Müller) counters are radiation detectors based on similar principles, but they differ in the magnitude of the voltage applied to measure the current. Ionization chambers operate at lower voltages than proportional counters, while GM counters operate at higher voltages than proportional counters.
Proportional counters detect radiation such as X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, and neutrons and measure radiation counts and energy. Because of their simple structure and relatively easy manufacturing, proportional counters are often used as detectors in academic research and other fields.
Generally, they are used to measure radiation dose in the air, especially for neutron detection and β-ray contamination detection. Proportional counters for X-rays are also sometimes incorporated as detectors in X-ray fluorescence film thickness meters, which are used for non-contact measurement of plating thickness, etc., because of their larger incident window and higher efficiency compared to semiconductor detectors.
The proportional counter is usually a cylindrical aluminum vessel filled with a mixture of inert gases such as argon, helium, or neon, and methane or butane and operated by applying high voltage to wires stretched inside the tube. The cylindrical vessel has an incident window through which radiation enters the tube.
When the incident radiation passes through the gas, the gas along its path is ionized to produce electrons and cations. The electrons produced are called primary electrons. The primary electrons are accelerated by the electric field in the tube and ionize the gas anew, and these ionized electrons cause further ionization, resulting in a phenomenon called gas amplification in which the number of electrons increases explosively. The amplified electrons flow into the wire inside the tube and are detected as an electrical pulse.
Since the number of amplified electrons is proportional to the energy of the incident radiation, this detector is called a proportional counter. The amplification rate of electrons depends on the type of gas and the applied voltage, but if the gas and voltage are known, the energy of the incident radiation can be measured.
An ionization chamber operates on a similar principle to the proportional counter but operates at a lower voltage and therefore does not amplify the gas. Therefore, proportional counters have the advantage of higher sensitivity than ionization chambers. On the other hand, proportional counters have the disadvantage that they cannot measure the number of primary electrons as accurately as an ionization chamber, and their energy resolution is inferior.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Global Nucleonics is a manufacturer of ruggedized gas-filled radiation detectors that is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and was established in 2008. The company offers a wide range of radiation detector products such as GM Tubes (including high-temperature and ruggedized models), He3 and BF3 Neutron Proportional Counters (including high-temperature and ruggedized models), X-ray proportional counters, and Ionization Chambers. Global Nucleonics also offers multiple of custom detector designs and services. The company's customers include oilfield services, defense/security, nuclear power plants, medical facilities, and government agencies.
Founded in 1915, Canon Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer operating under Canon, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in Otawara, Tochigi, with representative offices in Tokyo, China, the USA, and Europe. The company introduced Japan's first X-ray tube in 1915. Since then, it has developed various components incorporating X-ray tubes for medical, industrial, and scientific applications. Additionally, the company produces environmentally conscious products (ECPs) to minimize environmental impact. For example, the multi-beam klystron can be operated with a low operating voltage for a relatively longer period of time due to the optimized cathode loading.
HydraForce Inc., founded in 1985 and headquartered in Illinois, United States, is a manufacturer of hydraulic control products for the mobile industrial equipment. The company's products include electro-proportional controls, solenoid on-off controls, and flow control valves. It also offers electronic vehicle controls and custom manifolds. The company works with client engineers to produce customized solutions on demand. It has grown to several manufacturing locations in Europe, South America, and Asia, with a network of 120 stocking distributors that offer local support to customer across the globe.
PHOTONIS, a well-reputed French company founded in 1937, specializes in manufacturing electro-optic components and detectors. They offer a wide range of products, including photomultiplier tubes, image intensifiers, and microchannel plates. PHOTONIS serves various industries, such as scientific research, defence, medical, and industrial applications. Their products are used in applications like night view, mass spectral analysis, and space exploration. PHOTONIS is present internationally with offices and distributors in different countries. Devoted to excellence and environmental responsibility with various certifications, ensuring reliability and safety for customers.
Ranking as of January 2025
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Global Nucleonics. |
37.8%
|
| 2 | PHOTONIS |
28.4%
|
| 3 | Canon Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd. |
23.0%
|
| 4 | HydraForce, Inc. |
10.8%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the proportional counter page as of January 2025. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
1 | 50.0% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 50.0% |
31 products found
31 products
Optomechatro Co., Ltd.
80+ people viewing
Ultra-weak light measurement can be directly connected to a PC using a USB cable. Photomulti control signals and measurement data can be transferre...
Optomechatro Co., Ltd.
100+ people viewing
Last viewed: 7 minutes ago
Low-level light measurement can be directly connected to a PC using a USB cable. Photomal control signals and measurement data can be transferred v...
Yagyu Shokai Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 22 hours ago
Very Fast Response
■Features - Equipped with a high-performance scintillator type sensor, enabling higher-grade measurements. - Quick measurements are possible just b...
Yagyu Shokai Co., Ltd.
80+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
Very Fast Response
■Features - When radiation (gamma rays) is detected, a buzzer and detection mark will notify you. - A buzzer will notify you when the dose is high...
Jpi Japan Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 22 hours ago
Standard Response
Quart's dosimeters for diagnostic equipment and dosimeters for CT pursue high user convenience. Thanks to the manufacturer's specialized technology...
Berthold Japan Co., Ltd.
180+ people viewing
Last viewed: 9 minutes ago
The LB6360-H10 is a proportional counter for low dose rate measurements used in a variety of radiation protection applications, such as for steady-...
2 models listed
Berthold Japan Co., Ltd.
140+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
A lightweight, easy-to-operate dose rate monitor with an integrated measuring device and detector. A proportional counter approved according to the...
Berthold Japan Co., Ltd.
90+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 day ago
LB6414 is a new highly sensitive portable neutron survey meter used for plutonium contamination and nuclear waste surveys. A He-3 proportional coun...
Berthold Japan Co., Ltd.
200+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 day ago
This is a space-saving hand and foot cloth monitor designed with the installation area in mind. Hand detectors can be used as clothing detectors, r...
4 models listed
Berthold Japan Co., Ltd.
290+ people viewing
Last viewed: 15 hours ago
The LB124SCINT series can distinguish between α and βγ rays and measure them at the same time. It is compact and lightweight, making it easy to han...
4 models listed
Chiyoda Technol Co., Ltd.
140+ people viewing
Last viewed: 7 hours ago
5.0 Company Review
This is a neutron survey meter that uses a highly sensitive 3He proportional counter. It is possible to measure neutrons from thermal neutrons to a...
Chiyoda Technol Co., Ltd.
250+ people viewing
Last viewed: 23 hours ago
5.0 Company Review
It can handle a variety of isotopes handled at RI facilities such as medical institutions, research laboratories, and nuclear power plants. ・Smal...
Chiyoda Technol Co., Ltd.
180+ people viewing
Last viewed: 23 hours ago
5.0 Company Review
It can handle a variety of isotopes handled at RI facilities such as medical institutions, research laboratories, and nuclear power plants. ・Smal...
Chiyoda Technol Co., Ltd.
190+ people viewing
5.0 Company Review
It can handle a variety of isotopes handled at RI facilities such as medical institutions, research laboratories, and nuclear power plants. ・Smal...
Chiyoda Technol Co., Ltd.
320+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
5.0 Company Review
A single device can cover everything from measuring the amount of radioactivity such as 99mTc and positron nuclides using an ionization chamber det...
Chiyoda Technol Co., Ltd.
200+ people viewing
Last viewed: 22 hours ago
5.0 Company Review
Ionization chamber type survey meter with excellent energy characteristics. Two modes of measurement are possible: 1cm dose equivalent rate and int...
Chiyoda Technol Co., Ltd.
190+ people viewing
Last viewed: 16 hours ago
5.0 Company Review
TGS-1146 is a β-ray survey meter that uses an end window type organic GM tube with a diameter of 50 mm. ・Improved visibility with 3.5-inch touch ...
Chiyoda Technol Co., Ltd.
180+ people viewing
Last viewed: 21 hours ago
5.0 Company Review
It employs a NaI (Tl) scintillation detector with high gamma-ray sensitivity, making it suitable for measuring changes in air dose rate from backgr...
30+ people viewing
Last viewed: 10 hours ago
RAM ION is a highly stable ionization chamber survey meter with automatic range that can accurately measure X-rays, gamma-rays, and beta-rays in te...
30+ people viewing
A compact, cost-effective, easy-to-use MOSFET dosimeter that can measure two channels simultaneously. Powered by a rechargeable battery, it is easy...
40+ people viewing
Can display low energy X-rays of 8keV from levels as low as 0.01μSv/h. It is characterized by being small, lightweight, and inexpensive. ■Features...
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 9 hours ago
■Main features It can measure cumulative dose values as a personal dosimeter and measure dose rates as a radiation measuring device. This device ...
20+ people viewing
■Summary Possible to measure α-ray, β-ray, X-ray, and γ-ray contamination. It is small and lightweight, and the detection part and display part are...
20+ people viewing
■Summary A must-have item for police and fire fighters who rush to the scene of terrorist attacks with explosives - Already adopted in large number...
