What effect can humidity have on the performance of an ionization chamber?

Humidity can significantly affect the performance of an ionization chamber in several ways, particularly through its potential to introduce significant leakage current. When humidity levels rise, moisture can enter the chamber and lead to the formation of conductive paths or film on the internal surfaces. This increased moisture can create ionization paths that are not desired in the measurement process, resulting in leakage currents that affect the accuracy and reliability of the readings obtained from the ionization chamber.

Accurate ionization measurements depend on the controlled environment within the chamber, where undesired conductive paths can distort the ionization events and consequently the measurement of radiation. Therefore, maintaining proper humidity levels is crucial for the optimal functioning of an ionization chamber to ensure precise dosimetric measurements.