Development of A handheld pressurized ionization chamber for gamma monitoring

In this study, it is aimed to design and manufacture an ionization chamber (IC) in dimensions suitable for use in handheld radiation meter detectors. In the measurements made in the region of 0.2 mR/h and 6 R/h dose rates, it was determined that the dose current linearity was at high levels (99%) and the ionization current sensitivity was 1.7 x 10⁻⁷ A per R/h at 10 atm (130 psig) pressure. In the saturation characteristic study of the ionization chamber at different dose rates, it was observed that the plateau region was reached at ≈200 V applied chamber potential values. The effect of general recombination was analyzed by using two voltage method and fitting techniques. The collection efficiency factor of the ionization chamber at low and high dose rates (between 2 mR/h-5R/h) was calculated for both techniques and found to be in agreement. The designed and fabricated ionization chamber tube has been demonstrated to satisfy the requisite criteria and is thus suitable for utilization in handheld radiation meter detectors.