Performance of a Roos ionization chamber in gamma radiation beams (60Co)

Among the different types of dosimetry instruments, the ionization chambers are the most practical and and important radiation measurement devices due to their high sensitivity and relatively constant response within a wide range of energies. A commercial PTW ionization chamber (Roos electron chamber) usually utilized in X-ray beams, was tested to verify the possibility of its dosimetric application in 60Co beams. The main tests in this work were: short- and long-term stability, saturation, ion collection efficiency, polarity effect, leakage current and angular dependence. The characterization tests were performed using a Gammatron 60Co irradiator and a special goniometer made of PMMA. All results were within international recommendations. The reproducibility test presented results within the recommended limit of ±1%, and all coefficients of variation observed in the repeatability test were lower than ±0.07%. The ion collection efficiency was better than 99.9% for both polarities. For all pairs of polarity evaluated during the saturation test, the polarity effect was lower than the recommended limit. The maximum variation obtained for angular dependence test was only 0.5%. The chamber tested in this work achieved the expected results in the case of all pre-operational tests realized: stability, leakage current, angular dependence, saturation, ion collection and polarity effect. Evaluating the satisfactory results obtained, it is possible to indicate the usefulness of this ionization chamber for dosimetry in 60Co gamma radiation beams. (author)