Ion Chamber Survey

Instruments: The Beta Factor

Presented at the 39th Annual Meeting
of the Australasian Radiation Protection Society (ARPS)
Hobart, Tasmania
Australia
October 27-30, 2014

George Anastas,
P.E., CHP, BCEE, FHPS, FARPS
Albuquerque, New Mexico
USA
 Disclaimer
• The views expressed herein reflect only
the views or opinions of the author.
These views or opinions may or may
not represent or reflect the views or
opinions of any past, current or future
employer(s), children, Grand Children
or colleagues.

George Anastas, Albuquerque, New Mexico October 2014

 Ionization Chambers
• Gas (air at atmospheric pressure) filled detectors
(This discussion does not apply to pressurized
ion chambers, the window is toooo thick to allow
beta particles into the detector).
• Gamma/X-Ray or Beta Radiation produces
ionization in the chamber and thus causes a
current to flow.
• The magnitude of the current is proportional to
the exposure rate.
Figure 1 Exposure
Figure 2 Ion Chamber
 Unique Attributes

• Flat response for a large range of gamma and x-ray

energies (a few kev to 9+MeV)
• Great instrument for high levels of photon radiation
• Can discriminate between photon radiation and beta
radiation (end cap or sliding shield)
• Can measure beta radiation dose by use of the “beta
factor”
Figure 3 Flat Energy Response to
Photons
Figure 4 Response Decreases 3% for Every
1000 feet Increase in Elevation Above
Calibration Elevation
Figure 5 Temperature Correction
Factors (Degrees F)
 However
• Most ion chamber instruments are calibrated for
photon surveys in a uniform field with the cap
on.
• For beta surveys, the cap is removed and the
window (thin mylar for example) is placed very
close to the surface of a very non-uniform field.
• Thus the instrument exposed to beta radiation
will read some average for the chamber.
 However (cont.)
• What is the beta dose rate in direct contact
with the surface??
• This question is important if one is
concerned about the dose rate that skin
would receive if an employee came in
contact with the beta contamination.
• Thus arises the “BETA FACTOR”.
 Mixed Beta/Gamma Radiation
• Take two readings at the same distance
from the contamination
– 1) One with the “open window” (seeing
photons + beta)
– 2) One with “closed window” (seeing only
photons)
– Subtract reading 2 from reading 1 ≈ beta dose

–NO THIS IS INCORRECT!!!!!!!!!!!

 Determining Beta Factor Using a
Ludlum Model 9-3, Reference Ludlum Model 3 Manual, August 2013

• Expose instrument to depleted Uranium

Slab at 234 mrad/hr
• Reading with Slide Open (Photon + Beta)
50 mR/hr
• Reading with slide closed (Photon only)
1.2 mR/hr
 Calculate Beta Factor from
Calibration Information
• Beta Factor = Beta Dose from Slab
divided by {Open Window, Photon Dose +
Beta Dose – Closed Window, Photon
Dose}

• or
234/(50-1.2) = 234/48 = 4.8 mrad/mR
 Mixed Beta/Gamma Field
• Take two readings at the same distance
from the suspected contamination
– 1) One with the “open window”, reading 65
mR/hr
– 2) One with “closed window” , reading 35
mR/hr

• So gamma dose is 35 mR/hr and beta

dose is (65-35) times 4.8 = 144 mrad/hr
 Figure 6 Some Beta Factors
Instrument Photon Beta Factors
Calibration
Bicron RSO 5 Cs-137 See Figure 7
Fluke 481/451B Cs-137 Responds to, but is not calibrated for, beta
radiation with the slide open.

Ludlum Model 9 Cs-137 5.4 with protective screen; 3.7 without

protective screen; depleted U slab at 234
mrad/hr (contact)

Ludlum Model 9-3 Cs-137 4.8; depleted U slab at 234 mrad/hr

(contact)

RO-2, 2A Cs-137 See Figure 8

RO-5 Cs-137
3.5-5

RO-20 Cs-137 3.3 U slab (30%); ~ 1 Sr/Y -90 (93%)

Figure 7 Beta Response for RO-2
and R0-2A
Figure 8 Beta Response for Bicron
RSO 5
Any Questions????