In 1913 he invented a counter for detecting atomic particles
[DOC] [TLE] BBC - Manchester - Rutherford: splitting the atom [PAR] Sep 30, 2009 ... Find out more about the scientist Ernest Rutherford whose atomic research ... and 
Hans Geiger, physics laboratory, Manchester University c.1913 ... who would go 
on to invent the radiation counter; Lawrence Bragg, ...