Ion loss due to initial recombination in a parallel-plate cavity ionization chamber.

Collection efficiencies for ion loss due to initial recombination and back-diffusion were measured for several humidities using a parallel-plate cavity ionization chamber irradiated with 60Co gamma-rays. It was shown, from measurements in a range of inverse electric field strengths from 0.05 to 14 mm V(-1), that initial recombination took place both in clusters and columns of ions produced along the path of the secondary electrons ejected by the y-rays. The ion loss due to recombination in clusters was found to increase with humidity, but that in columns did not. Effects of ion clustering reactions on recombination may be reduced after longer periods of ion drift, when recombination in columns takes place. Ion loss due to back-diffusion was also found to have no dependence on humidity.