What is the primary purpose of detection equipment that uses gases bombarded by ionizing radiation?

Detection equipment that uses gases bombarded by ionizing radiation primarily serves the purpose of detecting radiation. This type of equipment often relies on the ionization of gas molecules when they interact with various forms of ionizing radiation, such as alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. When these radiation particles collide with the gas atoms, they can displace electrons, creating ion pairs. The equipment measures these ion pairs and converts them into a readable signal, allowing for the quantification and identification of the radiation present in the environment.

Other options, while they may utilize different types of sensors or methodologies, do not focus on the detection of radiation specifically. For instance, measuring environmental pollution would involve tracking chemical contaminants rather than ionizing radiation, which is not the primary function of gas ionization detectors. Similarly, determining chemical composition typically requires techniques such as spectroscopy or chromatography, not radiation detection methods. Monitoring temperature changes involves entirely different sensors, such as thermocouples or thermistors, that do not relate to the ionization effects seen in gas detectors. Thus, recognizing the unique function of gas ionization detection equipment is essential for understanding its application in the field of radiation safety.