CVD diamond detectors and dosimeters

Natural diamond, because of its well-known properties of tissue-equivalence, has recorded a widespreading use in radiotherapy planning with electron linear accelerators. Artificial diamond dosimeters, as obtained by Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) could be capable to offer the same performances and they can be prepared in different volumes and shapes. The dosimeter sensitivity per unit volume may be easily proved to be better than in standard ionization microchambers. We have prepared in our laboratory CVD diamond microchambers (''diamond tips'') in emispherical shape with an external diameter of 200 mm, which can be used both as X-ray beam profilometers and as microdosimeters for small field applications like stereotaxy and also for ''in vivo'' applications. These dosimeters, which are obtained on a wire substrate that could be either metallic or SiC or even graphite, display good performances also as ion or synchrotron X-rays detectors.