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ion-chamber dosimeter

measurement instrument

Quick Summary

An ion-chamber dosimeter is a reusable instrument used to measure exposure to ionizing radiation. It functions as a radiation detector, determining the intensity of radiation beams or counting individual charged particles.12

The device contains a gas-filled volume with two electrodes. When radiation enters, it ionizes the gas molecules, creating ion pairs. An electric field, maintained by a voltage between the electrodes, causes these ions to move, generating a measurable electric current. This current is proportional to the amount of radiation detected. Air-filled ion chambers are commonly used as portable survey meters to monitor potential personnel exposure to gamma rays.32

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