A Lucas cell is a type of scintillation counter.[1] It is used to acquire a gas sample, filter out the radioactive particulates through a special filter and then count the radioactive decay. The inside of the gas chamber is coated with ZnS(Ag) - a chemical that emits light when struck by alpha particles. A photomultiplier tube at the top of the chamber counts the photons and sends the count to a data logger.
- ^ Lucas, Henry (1957). "Improved Low-Level Alpha-Scintillation Counter for Radon". Review of Scientific Instruments. 28 (9): 680–683. Bibcode:1957RScI...28..680L. doi:10.1063/1.1715975.