Accession Number:

ADA151850

Title:

Evaluation of a Gridded Ionization Chamber for the Detection of Radioactive Noble Gases.

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis,

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Gibbons,M. R.

Report Date:

1984-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

71.0

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, 2.4kVcm. 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.

Descriptors:

• *IONIZATION CHAMBERS
• *XENON
• *RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES
• QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
• DETECTION
• GRIDS
• THESES
• ELECTRIC FIELDS
• IONIZATION
• RADIATION MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
• RARE GASES
• LIQUEFIED GASES

Subject Categories:

• Nuclear Instrumentation

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE