Dosimetric characterization of silicon and diamond detectors in low-energyproton beams

The dosimetric behaviour of a Scanditronix p-type silicon diode and a PTW n atural diamond detector was studied in low-energy proton beams in the 8.3-2 1.5 MeV range. The properties investigated were linearity, reproducibility, dose rate dependence, energy and linear energy transfer (LET) dependence. The influence of detector thickness on the results of depth dose measuremen ts was also demonstrated. A Markus parallel plate ionization chamber was us ed for reference dosimetry. Silicon diode and diamond detectors showed line arity at therapeutic dose level, reproducibility better than 1% (1 sigma) a nd sensitivity variation with dose rate and proton energy.