Evaluation of a Gridded Ionization Chamber for the Detection of Radioactive Noble Gases.
Abstract
This thesis investigates the feasibility of quantifying the constitutes of a radioactive noble gas sample with a liquid noble gas gridded ionization chamber, Xenon-131m and zenon-133 are the noble gases used to test the chamber. Several other sources are used to characterize other aspects of the chamber. THe chamber is designed to hold the liquid noble gas between the cathode and the grid while vapor remains between the anode and the grid. Thus the ionization caused by the radioactive noble gas sample is confined for the most part between the grid and the cathode. In this way position dependence of generated voltage pulse heights is eliminated. The efficiencies found for the detector are high, but the energy resolution is only 40 % fwhm. The poor resolution is due to limited electric fields in the chamber, 2.4kV/cm. Discharge in the vapor prevented higher electric fields in the chamber. Without good energy resolution, ratios of radioactive nobles in a sample can not be found. Some possible solutions to the energy resolution problem are presented. Keywords include: Ionization Chambers; Radiation Measurement Systems, Radioactive Isotopes, Rare Gases.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA151850
Entities
People
- M. R. Gibbons
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology