Testing the prototype diamond detector for the ITER neutral-particle spectrometer

A single-crystal diamond detector for the neutral-particle analyzer of the ITER project has been tested in proton and α-particle beams that were obtained using a heavy-ion accelerator. The use of a diamond detector as a particle analyzer seems to be promising because of its unique properties, such as operability at a high temperature and a high level of radiation resistance. The energy resolution of the detector and the minimum detectable particle energy have been determined.