Zero-bias operation of polycrystalline chemically vapour deposited diamond films for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

A detailed investigation of the performance as a dosimeter of state-of-art polycrystalline CVD (pCVD) diamond detectors operated in photovoltaic regime for applications in clinical radiotherapy has been carried out with conventional 6–10–18 MV X-photons, as well as with a 10 MV photon Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) beam from a linear accelerator. Our results show that the performances of a pCVD diamond dosimeter improves dramatically when operated in null-bias conditions. Main improvements with respect to operation with an external voltage applied are: a reduced pre-irradiation dose; an excellent time stability, characterised by standard deviations less than 0.5%; a rise-time comparable to that of commercial reference dosimeters; a linearity with dose proven over three decades; a reduced deviation from linearity of the current vs. dose–rate curve, output factors comparable to that of commercial reference dosimeters. These results represent a significant step towards clinical applications as IMRT with synthetic polycrystalline CVD diamond films.

Research Highlights► Cr/Au metallization process on pCVD provides Schottky barrier at electrodes. ► Null-bias operation of pCVD Diamond viable solution for dosimetry. ► Null-bias operation of pCVD in radiotherapy improves their performance as dosimeters. ► Clinical applications as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy with pCVD diamond films.