What is the most common type of sensor found in AEC systems?

The most common type of sensor found in Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) systems is the ion chamber. Ion chambers operate on the principle of detecting the ionization produced within a gas by X-rays. When X-rays pass through the ion chamber, they interact with the gas atoms, resulting in the creation of ion pairs (positive ions and electrons). This ionization creates a measurable electric current, which is proportional to the quantity of radiation that has passed through the chamber.

AEC systems utilize these ion chambers to ensure that the appropriate amount of radiation is delivered to the image receptor, thus optimizing image quality while minimizing patient exposure to radiation. The ion chamber's response to radiation allows the AEC system to automatically terminate the exposure once sufficient radiation has been detected to create a diagnostic-quality image, ensuring efficiency and safety in radiographic practices.

While other types of sensors, such as photodetectors and solid-state detectors, exist and are used in various applications, ion chambers are specifically popular in AEC systems due to their reliability and effectiveness in optimizing exposure in radiography.