DETECTION AND TELEMETERING OF IONIZING RADIATION BY FREQUENCY VARIATION

Three methods are discussed for detecting ionizing radiation and transitting the intelligence. All three methods make use of the reactamce variation of a frequency determining network, to vary the frequency of an R.F. transitter as a function of ionizing radiation entering an ion chamber or counter. The first method is based on the capacitance znd subsequent frequency variation of am electrometer incorporated in an ion chamber. The variation is achieved by a moving came electrometer, where the position of the vane changes as a function of the leakage of an electrostatic charge when exposed to radiatioz and thus varies the electrometer capacitance. Gamma, beta particles, and fast neutrons were measured during these experiments. The second method replaces the moving vane electrometer by ferroelectric capacitances. This reduces the sensitiwity, but permits movement of the instrument during exposure. These ferroelectric capacitances are physically very small and can be enclosed inside of an ion chamber. The varintion of the capacitance with charge or voltage permits measurement of the ionination current as a function of capacitance and frequency. The third and most successful method replaces the ion chamber by a Geiger counter, single pulses and integrated pulse rates can be measured and transmitted. (auth