CVD diamond X-ray detectors for radiotherapy dosimetry

X-ray detectors were fabricated from a range of commercially-available synthetic diamond fabricated using chemical vapour deposition (CVD). As these detectors are intended as dosimeters for use in radiotherapy (beam calibration and profiling, in-situ dose measurements etc.), they were appropriately packaged and tested in a clinical environment, using clinical apparatus and following clinical procedures. The combination of linear dose-rate dependence of the photocurrent, negligible dark current levels (pA or less, compared to nA photocurrents), low priming doses (few Gy) and high specific sensitivities (of up to 460 nCGy
^-1
mm
^-3
, compared to reported values of 50-140 nCGy
^-1
mm
^-3
for a commercial natural diamond-based X-ray detector) demonstrates the potential of these devices as simple-to-use, small size, tissue-equivalent, sensitive X-ray dosimeters.