The relationship between platelet size and the frequency of the B’ infrared absorption peak in type Ia diamond

Abstract

The sizes of the {100} platelets have been determined in several type la diamonds, both by using a non-destructive X-ray topographic method and by direct electron microscope observations. The measurements by the two methods compare reasonably well, given the heterogeneity of diamond and the difficulties inherent in attempting to ensure that identical crystal volumes are sampled with both techniques. In conjunction with these size measurements, the frequencies of the B’ localized-mode infrared absorption peaks caused by the platelets have been measured. The results confirm an early speculative hypothesis that frequency and platelet size are related in an inverse manner.