The detection of ionizing radiations by natural and synthetic diamond crystals and their application as dosimeters in biological environments

Abstract

Experimental results demonstrate that synthetic diamond crystals, with impurity concentrations carefully controlled during the synthesizing process, are excellent ionizing radiation detectors in instances of in vivo radiation dosimetry. Emphasis is laid on the fact that because of their size and physical properties, synthetic diamond crystals would lend themselves particularly well to electron beam dosimetry measurements in radiotherapy units. With slight modifications to the synthesizing process, the diamonds can be used equally well as thermoluminescence dosimeters using a standard reader or, after attaching leads and applying a polarizing voltage, as ionization chamber dosimeters monitoring either the induced d.c. or the pulses that can be digitized for lower dose rates. The nontoxic, tissue-equivalent diamond crystal dosimeters are robust and can be reused many times. They should provide not only an outstanding addition to the range of presently available commercial dosimeters but, in certain situations, will have unique and desirable advantages over other tissue-equivalent materials.