Which part of an AEC system attracts the ions to generate current?

The positive electrode plays a crucial role in the functioning of an Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) system. In an AEC system, when radiation passes through the patient and reaches the detectors, it ionizes the air within the chamber. This ionization generates free electrons, which move toward the positive electrode due to its attraction to positively charged ions. As these electrons are drawn toward the positive electrode, they create a measurable current that can be used to determine when an adequate amount of radiation has been detected.

This function is essential for controlling the exposure time during fluoroscopic procedures, ensuring that the image quality is optimized while minimizing patient radiation dose. The positive electrode effectively completes the circuit needed to measure this current, thereby facilitating the proper functioning of the AEC system to provide appropriate exposure settings.

Other components, while essential for the system's operation, do not attract the ions to generate the current in the same fundamental way as the positive electrode does. Understanding the roles of these components can enhance comprehension of the AEC system's overall mechanism and importance in radiographic imaging.