A Diamond Multistrip Detector for the JLab Hall C Compton Polarimeter

Precision polarimetry is essential for any precision asymmetry measurement. The QWeak experiment at JLab will use parity violating electron scattering from the proton to perform a precision measurement of the weak charge of the proton (Q$^{P}_{\small{{\mbox{Weak}}}}$). This experiment requires the knowledge of the electron beam polarization at a level of $\sim$1\%. To achieve this, a Compton Polarimeter is under construction in JLab Hall C. The Polarimeter includes a recoil electron detector. The QWeak experiment plans to use a 180 $\mu$A polarized electron beam, in order to get the highest luminosity possible at JLab. At these luminosities, the typically used silicon detectors are rendered unsuitable due to rapid radiation damage. Thus, Chemical Vapor Deposited (CVD) diamond was chosen for the recoil electron detector. CVD Diamond detectors are well known for their radiation hardness. A prototype diamond multi-strip detector was characterized at Mississippi State University. We will present preliminary spectra obtained from this detector. The status of the full-size detector currently under construction will also be presented.