Survey meters are portable radiation

Radiation

In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...

 detection and measurement instruments used to check personnel, equipment, and facilities for radioactive contamination, or check external or ambient ionizing radiation fields (to evaluate the direct exposure hazard). They are synonymous with Scintillation counter

Scintillation counter

A scintillation counter measures ionizing radiation. The sensor, called a scintillator, consists of a transparent crystal, usually phosphor, plastic , or organic liquid that fluoresces when struck by ionizing radiation. A sensitive photomultiplier tube measures the light from the crystal...

s, Geiger counter

Geiger counter

A Geiger counter, also called a Geiger–Müller counter, is a type of particle detector that measures ionizing radiation. They detect the emission of nuclear radiation: alpha particles, beta particles or gamma rays. A Geiger counter detects radiation by ionization produced in a low-pressure gas in a...

s and other particle radiation detectors.

See also

• Scintillation counter
  Scintillation counter
  A scintillation counter measures ionizing radiation. The sensor, called a scintillator, consists of a transparent crystal, usually phosphor, plastic , or organic liquid that fluoresces when struck by ionizing radiation. A sensitive photomultiplier tube measures the light from the crystal...
  
  
• Geiger counter
  Geiger counter
  A Geiger counter, also called a Geiger–Müller counter, is a type of particle detector that measures ionizing radiation. They detect the emission of nuclear radiation: alpha particles, beta particles or gamma rays. A Geiger counter detects radiation by ionization produced in a low-pressure gas in a...
  
  
• Geiger-Müller tube
  Geiger-Müller tube
  A Geiger–Müller tube is the sensing element of a Geiger counter instrument that can detect a single particle of ionizing radiation, and typically produce an audible click for each. It was named for Hans Geiger who invented the device in 1908, and Walther Müller who collaborated with Geiger in...
  
  
• Gaseous ionization detectors
  Gaseous ionization detectors
  In particle physics, gaseous ionization detectors are detectors designed to seek the presence of particles . If a particle has enough energy to ionize a gas atom or molecule, the resulting electrons and ions cause a current flow which can be measured in different ways...
  
  
• Ionization chamber
  Ionization chamber
  The ionization chamber is the simplest of all gas-filled radiation detectors, and is used for the detection or measurement of ionizing radiation...