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U.S. Department of Energy
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A PULSE READING METHOD FOR CONDENSER ION CHAMBERS

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4291077
Presented at the Health Physics Society Meeting, held at Berkeley, Calif., June 9-11, 1958. A new methcd has been developed for the measuremeat of low levels of radiation using condenser ionization chambers such as the pencils used in radiation protection work. The methcd of reading utilizes the magnitude of the current pulse required to recharge the pencils after they have been exposed. Any charging voltage may be used without a change in sensitivity. Using a low charging voltage reduces leakage to a very low level. Full range of pencils charged to 20 volts is about 30 mr. Higher charging voltages can be used to increase this range. Sensitivity of a small fraction of a milliroentgen is available. Readings of 1 plus or minus 0.2 mr or 10 plus or minus 1 mr are possible at 95% confidence with a single pencil. The system has been used at HAPO to measure background on the project, on the Columbia River, and in the environs. Typical values are presented. Other possible applications are accurate personnel monitoring and neutron dose measurement. This system lends itself to automation of records keeping. (auth)
Research Organization:
General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-52
NSA Number:
NSA-13-002900
OSTI ID:
4291077
Report Number(s):
HW-57266
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English