Si(Li) detectors with thin dead layers for low energy x-ray detection

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/23.289303· OSTI ID:5045208

Rossington, C S; Walton, J T; Jaklevic, J M ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)

Regions of incomplete charge collection, or dead layers, are compared for Si(Li) detectors fabricated with Au and Pd entrance window electrodes. The dead layers were measured by characterizing the detector spectral response to x-ray energies above and below the Si K{alpha} absorption edge. It was found that Si(Li) detectors with Pd electrodes exhibit consistently thinner effective Si dead layers than those with Au electrodes. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the minimum thickness required for low resistivity Pd electrodes is thinner than that required for low resistivity Au electrodes, which further reduces the signal attenuation in Pd/Si(Li) detectors. In this paper a model, based on Pd compensation of oxygen vacancies in the SiO{sub 2} at the entrance window Si(Li) surface, is proposed to explain the observed differences in detector dead layer thickness. Electrode structures for optimum Si(Li) detector performance at low x-ray energies are discussed.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5045208
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 38:2; ISSN 0018-9499; ISSN IETNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440100* -- Radiation Instrumentation
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALKALI METALS
CHARGE COLLECTION
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DETECTION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
GOLD
LI-DRIFTED DETECTORS
LI-DRIFTED SI DETECTORS
LITHIUM
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
PALLADIUM
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATINUM METALS
POINT DEFECTS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
SI SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SPECTRAL RESPONSE
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VACANCIES
X-RAY DETECTION