Re:RE: Dose Rates vs. Altitude

[Rodney Bauman <rodney_bauman@wssrap-host.wssrap.com>]

>I do not understand why a pressurized ion chamber is needed for >measurements -
I had the impression that all airplanes, also the ones >flying from Germany to
Israel, had a pressurized cabin. I really would not >like to fly at an altitude
of 10 000 m in a non pressurized cabin - would >you? 

Pressurized ion chambers are pressurized (usually to 600 psi) in order to
increase the instrument's sensitivity, not to allow use at varying atmospheric
pressures.  A standard "non-pressurized" 350 cc ion chamber cannot accurately
measure below 0.2 mrad/hr. 

Rodney Bauman, RRPT, CHP
rodney_bauman@wssrap-host.wssrap.com

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