Beta particles sensitivity of an all-carbon detector

The response of high quality polycrystalline diamond pixel detectors to 90Sr beta particles is reported. Laser induced surface graphitization was used to realize 36 conductive contacts with 1 mm×1 mm area each, pitch 1.2 mm, on one detector side whereas a 8 mm×8 mm large area graphite contact was realized on the other face for grounding or biasing. A proximity board was used to hold the matrix, the amplifiers and to bond nine pixels to test homogeneity of response among 36 detector pixels. Two configurations were used to test charge collection uniformity and signal dependence on voltage. Both configurations showed noise pedestal fitted with a Gaussian curve of 1150 equivalent electrons (1σ) and typical beta source particles spectrum. Reversing the bias polarity the pulse height distribution does not change and the saturation of most probable value of charge collection was observed around ±200 V (0.4 V/μm) with reasonable pixel response uniformity equal to a most probable value 1.28±0.05 fC. The charge collection efficiency (CCE) measurement was implemented using coincidence mode acquisition with an external trigger made by a commercial polycrystalline diamond slab. The detector shows a CCE=0.59 estimated using the 1 mm2 large graphite pixel. The information earned with this first prototype will be used to design the new board with amplifying electronics for reading all 36 pixels at a time and perform experiments with monochromatic high energy electrons.