Angle dependence of signal currents from cylindrical ionisation chambers

A signal current from a cylindrical ionisation chamber with an ionisation volume of 62.7 cm3, 40 mm in diameter and 50 mm long, peaked when the chamber was lixed at 0 degrees and at 90 degrees in 137Cs and 60Co gamma ray fields for source-chamber distances of 1 m and 2 m. A smaller ionisation chamber showed a small peak at 0 degrees in both fields but not at 90 degrees. However, calculations indicated that the signal current from the smaller chamber would also show a peak at 90 degrees in a 137Cs point-source gamma ray field. Peaks occur because gamma rays attenuate along the cylindrical side wall or along the end walls when a chamber is tilted slightly from 0 degrees or 90 degrees and the direction of the gamma ray beam agrees with the plane of one of these walls. These facts suggest the need for care in the common practice of measuring and calculating responses for cylindrical ionisation chambers fixed perpendicular to gamma ray beams.