Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Absolute Soft X-Ray Dosimetry For Radiation Chemistry Studies, Howard Sajon Joyner

Masters Theses

"A homogeneous, variable plate separation ion chamber consisting of a polyethylene body and employing flowing ethylene as the cavity gas has been designed and tested for the specification soft x-ray (<75kV) energy deposition in typical hydrocarbons. The variable plate separation feature provided primary data on the differential specific ionization originating within the cavity gas occupying the effective collector volume which is independent of inherent chamber inhomogeneities associated with the electrically conducting films comprizing the chamber electrodes. These data demonstrated that charged particle equilibrium is established within the first few ten thousandths of an inch in typical solid hydrocarbons irradiated with this class of sources. Comparison of this type of chamber with a fixed plate separation, static cavity gas mode of operation showed that the latter may predict dose rates with inherent errors exceeding 100%. With the quality of electronic readout accessories presently available, the variable plate separation chamber yielded dose rate data exhibiting a probable error of 3.8 percent (plus the unknown uncertainty in the literature data on the energy required to form an ion pair), and an ultimate limiting error of less than 2 percent appears feasible"--Abstract, page ii.