Diamonds
OwnerLeon Ampeir Vermeuleninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is founded on the discovery that type IIb diamond which has been rendered electrically non-conductive by being subjected to radiation capable of inducing atomic displacements becomes electrically conductive again when subjected to ionizing radiation. The invention thus provides a method of causing an electrical current to flow through a body of type IIb diamond which has been subjected to radiation capable of inducing atomic displacements by applying an electrical potential across the body and exposing the body to ionizing radiation while maintaining an electrical potential across the body. The invention also provides a novel diamond consisting of a type IIb diamond having only a portion which has been subjected to radiation capable of inducing atomic displacements.
Claims11
A method of causing an electrical current to flow through a body of type IIb diamond which has been subjected to radiation so as to cause atomic displacements, including the steps of applying an electrical potential across the body and exposing the body to ionizing radiation while maintaining an electrical potential across the body.
A method of causing an electrical current to flow through a body of type IIb diamond which has been subjected to electron bombardment radiation of energy greater than 0.3 MeV so as to cause atomic displacements, including the steps of applying an electrical potential across the body and exposing the body to ionizing radiation while maintaining an electrical potential across the body.
A method of detecting ionizing radiation including the steps of applying an electrical potential across a body of type IIb diamond which has been subjected to radiation so as to cause atomic displacements, exposing the body to ionizing radiation while maintaining an electrical potential across the body and monitoring the electrical current passing through the body.
A method of detecting ionizing radiation including the steps of applying an electrical potential across a body of type IIb diamond which has been subjected to electron bombardment radiation of energy greater than 0.3 MeV so as to cause atomic displacements, exposing the body to ionizing radiation while maintaining an electrical potential across the body and monitoring the electrical current passing through the body.
A variable resistance element comprising a body of type IIb which has been subjected to radiation so as to cause atomic displacements so mounted between a pair of electrodes that an electrical potential can be applied across it and adapted to be exposed to ionizing radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.