Ion-induced charging processes in CVD diamond films: cold cathode versus charged particles detector

In the present work, the results of a series of experiments, in which the low-dose response of diamond as a detector for 5.5 MeV alpha particles is compared to those in which diamond is used as a cold cathode for the emission of secondary electrons, are presented. The possibility that both phenomena are related, both having to do with local charging of the diamond by the large number of carriers produced by each impinging ion, is discussed. Ways of overcoming the problem are demonstrated.