Self-heating electrometer for high pressure ion chamber for verification of temperature compensation

摘要

An apparatus and method for verifying the temperature compensation correction factor accuracy of an electrometer 56 is provided. The electrometer 56 includes an electrical amplifier 72 to convert a current signal to a voltage signal. The electrometer 56 also includes a compensation circuit 76 to modify the voltage signal for temperature compensation. The electrometer 56 further includes a heat producing device 98 to induce a temperature change of the electrical amplifier 72 and the compensation circuit 76. An environmental radiation monitor 10 is also provided. The method includes providing an environmental radiation monitor 10, measuring the voltage signal at a first time, activating a heat producing device 98, measuring the voltage signal at a second time, and comparing the two measured values of the voltage signal.