Diamond can be used as active medium in ionizing particle detectors. The principle is very similar to an ionization chamber. An applied electric field separates the charge carriers, created by ionization, and the charge drift is measured as a detector current.
Diamond is often used in a similar fashion as silicon detectors, but show different detector performance. Fast signals, good radiation hardness and low leakage current even after irradiation are some of the unique qualities of diamond detectors.
During the lecture we will discuss diamond material and artificial growth of diamond, electrical contacts and electrical properties of diamond detectors. The radiation hardness of diamond is widely regarded as very good and some insight to radiation hardness is given. Electric field effects due to polarization will be discussed.
At the CMS experiment diamond detectors are used in the Beam Condition Monitors (BCM). The BCM systems will be shown as an application of diamond detectors.