Some physical consequences of elementary defects in diamonds

Abstract

Using the concept of the defect bond, which is somewhat analogous to the covalent bond, a qualitative theory of the physical properties of pure diamond is developed. The theory allows an explanation of many of the diverse physical properties of different diamond specimens and it leads to a correlation table which is based on a new classification of diamonds according to the presence and the arrangement of vacancies or interstitial atoms. Interpretation of the behaviour of diamond counters is now possible and a beginning is made on the quantitative comparison of theory and experiment, from considerations of the optical absorption properties of diamond in terms of a rudimentary electron energy level diagram.