The capabilities of electret ion chambers (EICs) to measure mean ambient dose equivalent rates were investigated by performing both laboratory and field studies of their properties. First, EICs were ‘calibrated’ to measure ambient gamma dose equivalent in the Ionizing Calibration Laboratory of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission. The EICs were irradiated with different gamma photon energies and from different angles. Calibration factors were deduced (electret’s voltage drop due to irradiation in terms of ambient dose equivalent). In the field studies, EICs were installed at eight locations belonging to the Greek Early Warning System Network (which is based on Reuter-Stokes ionization chambers) for three periods, averaging 5 months each. In the same locations, in situ gamma spectrometry measurements were performed with portable germanium detectors. Gamma ambient dose equivalent rates were deduced by the in situ gamma spectrometry measurements and by soil sample analysis. The mean daily electret potential drop (in Volts) was compared with the mean daily ambient dose equivalent, measured with a portable HPGe detector and Reuter-Stokes high-pressure ionization chambers. From these measurements, ‘field’ calibration factors (electret’s voltage drop due to gamma radiation in terms of ambient dose equivalent) were deduced and found in very good agreement with the values deduced in Laboratory. The influence of cosmic radiation and the intrinsic voltage loss when performing long-term environmental gamma measurements with EICs, was estimated.

中文翻译：

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使用电离离子室测量平均环境等效剂量的程序。

通过对它们的性能进行实验室和现场研究，研究了驻极体离子室（EIC）测量平均环境剂量当量率的能力。首先，在希腊原子能委员会的电离校准实验室中，对EIC进行了“校准”以测量等效的环境伽马剂量。用不同的伽马光子能量和不同的角度照射EIC。推导出校准因子（根据环境剂量当量，由于辐射导致的驻极体电压降）。在现场研究中，EIC被安装在属于希腊预警系统网络（基于Reuter-Stokes电离室的八个位置）的三个位置上，平均三个月。在相同的位置，在原位γ光谱测量使用便携式锗探测器进行。伽马环境剂量当量率是通过原位伽马能谱测量和土壤样品分析得出的。将平均每日驻极体电势下降（以伏特为单位）与平均每日环境等效剂量进行比较，该等效每日等效环境剂量由便携式HPGe检测器和Reuter-Stokes高压电离室测量。从这些测量中，可以得出“场”校准因子（根据环境剂量当量，由于伽马辐射导致的驻极体电压降），并且与实验室得出的值非常吻合。估算了使用EIC进行长期环境伽玛测量时宇宙辐射和固有电压损耗的影响。