ABSTRACT
Absolute dosimetry techniques are used for National Standards and are disseminated via a calibration to high-precision instruments, such as ionization chambers. Calorimetry has been used to realize the primary standard for absorbed dose to water through the fundamental quantity of temperature. Radiation-induced temperature changes in water are very small, less than a millikelvin per gray dose to water. Therefore, the accuracy of these techniques is dependent on the sensitivity of the instrument, insulation from outside environmental influences, the precision of the measurement technique, and the correction for any experimental defects. This chapter will provide an overview of the theoretical aspects of thermistor, acoustic, and interferometer calorimetry summarizing the basic equipment and techniques that are necessary to perform this measurement.
