Detecting ionising radiation

A method of manufacturing a radiation sensor element is disclosed. The method includes providing a diamond body which comprises crystalline diamond material which has a nitrogen impurity concentration of less than 150 ppm. The body is typically a synthetic diamond manufactured by a high temperature / high pressure process, or by a chemical vapour deposition process. The body is hydrogenated to cause atomic hydrogen to be incorporated into the diamond crystal lattice. Hydrogenation can be carried out by ion implantation, or by exposing the body to a hydrogen plasma. Where the sensor element is to be used as a counting diamond, electrical contacts are formed on the body, for example by ion implantation.