IONIZATION CHAMBERRadiation DetectorsWhen using an ionization chamber for detecting neutrons, beta particles can be prevented fromentering the chamber by walls thick enough to shield out all of the beta particles. Gamma rayscannot be shielded from the detector; therefore, they always contribute to the total current readby the ammeter. This effect is not desired because the detector responds not only to neutrons,but also to gamma rays. Several ways are available to minimize this problem.Discrimination is possible because the ionizations produced by the alpha particles differ in energylevels from those produced by gamma rays. A 1 MeV alpha particle moving through the gasloses all of its energy in a few centimeters. Therefore, all of the secondary electrons areproduced along a path of only a few centimeters. A 1 MeV gamma ray produces a 1 MeVelectron, and this electron has a long range and loses its energy over the entire length of itsrange. If we make the sensitive volume of the chamber smaller without reducing the area of thecoated boron, the sensitivity to gamma rays is reduced.Figure 17 illustrates how the chamber may be modified to accomplish this reduction.Figure 17 Minimizing Gamma Influence by Size and VolumeIn Figure 17(b) there is half as much gas in the sensitive volume as in the chamber in Figure17(a). As a result, gamma rays have only half as much gas to interact with; therefore, half thenumber of electrons are produced. The area which is boron-coated has not changed, and bothchambers produce the same number of neutron-induced alpha particles. Also, the gamma ray-induced electrons produce fewer ionizations because the range of these electrons is longer thanthe dimensions of the sensitive volume. The range of neutron-induced alpha particles is short,and all of the energy will be dissipated within the sensitive volume, even when the volume issmaller.IC-06 Page 32 Rev. 0
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