Diamond detectors for proton Time of Flight in CT-PPS and TOTEM experiments

This thesis presents my contribution in the study, characterization, and installation in the LHC beam line of diamond timing detectors on behalf of the TOTEM and CT-PPS experiments. This technology of radiation hard sensors allows exploiting their precise timing information to reconstruct the z-coordinates of interactions in events where the protons survive the collision and scattered at low angles, proceeding in the beamline. The work done involves all the procedures and the tests performed on the CT-PPS hybrid boards performed at the CERN North Area to verify the detector's performances and prepare them to be installed in the LHC. A whole chapter of the Thesis will be dedicated to the study of radiation damage on single-crystal diamond detectors performed at the IRRAD facility at CERN during November 2016. Moreover, during summer 2016 the parallel project (grant by the INFN) of the development of a double layer timing diamond detector has been pursued. The tests showed a time precision of 50 ps and therefore an increase of factor 1.6 - 1.7 with respect to a standard CT-PPS diamond detector resolution of 80 - 100 ps.