Diamond, a practical radiation counter

The properties which make diamond an attractive material for a practical conduction counter are discussed and the general theory of conduction counting is outlined. The counting property is thought to be a structural property and this also is responsible for the ill effects of polarization; diamonds, however, have been found which have the natural ability to maintain a steady counting rate for long periods and a method for selecting them is given. It is suggested that, for practical purposes, the diamond should be drilled with a small hole for the inner electrode and mounted at the end of a rigid or flexible cable; finally, the principles of amplification are described in detail.