A possible ɤ- radiation Dosimeter based on the radiation induced changes in Electrical conductivity of water in the presence of silica gel

Abstract

ɤ-Irradiation induces electrical conductivity (RIC) in water. But, the RIC values of water can be more than twofold higher in the presence of silica gel (SG) with particle size in the range >0.16-0.2 mm, relative to that of water only. Can this phenomenon be used in ɤradiation dosimetry? In order to answer this question, the effects of absorbed dose, absorbed dose rate, and postirradiation storage time, on the RIC, were studied. A linear increase (R 2 = 0.9952) in RIC with the increase in radiation absorbed dose was observed up to 16.24 kGy. Uncertainty type A (95% confidence level) of the measurements of absorbed dose/RIC function was found to be in the range 0.028-0.14. The coefficient of variation (CV%) of the studied system measurements was calculated, which did not exceed 6.53%. The RIC of the irradiated solutions showed good stability during post-irradiation storage (14 days at 0°C storage condition), where the fading of the response after storage was found to be in the range 2.16-3.50%. Moreover, the RIC increases, linearly, as the dose rate decreases (0.28-1.12 kGy/h). The studied dose ranged, of such system, covers dosimetric applications in medical and food irradiation.