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X-Ray Studies of Synthetic Radiation-Counting Diamonds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

Andrew Yacoot
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway, London University, Dept. of Physics, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
Moreton Moore
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway, London University, Dept. of Physics, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
Anthony Makepeace
Affiliation:
Bristol University, Department of Physiology, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
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Abstract

Synthetic diamonds with a nitrogen content less than 100ppm may be used as radiation dosimeters in a conduction counting mode, and are especially useful in medical applications. Crystal imperfections, revealed by X-ray diffraction topography, were found to affect counting performance. The best quality diamond gave the highest photocurrent (500nA at 50 V mm−1 and 2.75 Gy min−l). Diamonds containing dislocations had lower photocurrents but had the advantage of shorter settling times (seconds rather than minutes). Placing contacts on two opposite cube {100} faces gave a higher photocurrent than on a pair of octahedral {111} faces. Higher photocurrents were also achieved when the majority of dislocations were perpendicular rather than parallel to the electric field. Some recommendations for selecting synthetic diamonds for dosimeters are given.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

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References

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