Design of Ionization Chambers for Use in Teaching X-ray Dosimetry

Abstract

Ionization chambers are one of the most commonly used radiation detectors in radiation dosimetry. In this project, nine ionization chambers were constructed for use in teaching radiation dosimetry to students of health physics, medical physics, nuclear engineering, and related disciplines. The components of these detectors such as detector wall composition, type of electrode, type of leakage current guard ring, fill gas pressure, and interior conducting material differ in a systematic way to show that various parameters of ionization chamber design can affect the response of the detectors. Each of these variables was investigated using an 80 keV x-ray machine to determine detector response in terms of absorbed dose, HVL, polarity, and operating voltage. Of the components studied, wall thickness and composition was found to be the most sensitive variable. The pressure inside the chamber did have a significant effect on the amount of charge collected and the absorbed dose. The leakage current guard ring was not a critical component for this ionization chamber design.