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The Next Generation of Current Measurement for Ionization Chambers
Published
Author(s)
Ryan P. Fitzgerald, Denis E. Bergeron, Dean G. Jarrett, Neil M. Zimmerman, Carine Michotte, Hansjoerg Scherer, Stephen Giblin, Steven Judge
Abstract
Re-entrant ionization chambers (ICs) are essential to radionuclide metrology and nuclear medicine for maintaining standards and measuring half-lives. Metrology-quality systems must be precise and stable to 0.1% over many years, and linear from 10^(-14) A to 10^(-8) A. Thus, labs depend on bespoke current measurement systems and often rely on sealed sources to generate reference currents. To maintain and improve present capabilities, metrologists need to overcome two looming challenges: ageing electronics and decreasing availability of sealed sources. Possible solutions using Ultrastable Low-Noise Current Amplifiers (ULCAs), resistive-feedback electrometers, and (quantum) single-electron pumps are reviewed. Broader discussions of IC design and methodology are discussed. ULCAs show promise and resistive-feedback systems which take advantage of standard resistor calibrations offer an alternative.