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Abstract
The use of the “soft impressor” technique to introduce limited levels of strain in diamond, has allowed the controlled plastic deformation of diamond. This takes the form of multiple intersecting slip, without fracture and can be induced at temperatures less than 0.3 Tm. Linking this technique to optical measurement methods, such as cathodoluminescence (CL) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy [1], gives information concerning the interaction between point defects and dislocations introduced during the impression process. This investigation represents part of a programme designed to provide a more satisfactory understanding of the plasticity in diamond in order to evaluate the mechanical properties and the performance of different types of diamond systems.