The delay in the build-up of halogen-quenched counters

Summary It is shown experimentally that the so-called delay in halogen-quenched counters is only an apparent delay. There is no real delay but only a very slow multiplication giving the impression of a delay. The secondary mechanism is assumed to be ionization of halogen molecules by metastable rare gas atoms, the latter being formed by resonance radiation. The counters used were quenched with iodine and bromine.