Calculated Saturation Curves and Ion Densities of Ionization Chambers

Design criteria are established for parallel plate, cylindrical and spherical air-filled ionization chambers that are used in radiation protection and other applications at rates from 0.01 to 1000 rad/h. The saturation curves and design parameters were determined from numerical solutions of the Thomson equations. Ion recombination and space charge effects were taken into account. The calculations were carried out to low percentages of saturation values and the current densities in such cases were found to behave in a Heaviside fashion at the plates.