THE CHARACTERIZATION OF STRAIN, IMPURITY CONTENT, AND CRUSH STRENGTH OF SYNTHETIC DIAMOND CRYSTALS

This study addresses the correlation of the macroscopic and microscopi c characteristics of synthetic diamond crystals produced by high press ure, high temperature conditions. Microscopic properties were characte rized using Raman spectroscopy, birefringence, and photoluminescence ( PL). Macroscopic properties characterized included inclusion content a nd crush force. Raman measurements detected measurable stress shifts i n only two samples. The PL measurements indicated an increased presenc e of the H3 center in areas of high strain. The absence of the H3 cent er and the presence of the N-V PL center was correlated to lower avera ge crush force. A hierarchy has been developed that relates microscopi c properties to average crush force.