State of the art and potential applications of Mercuric Iodide radiation detectors
Mercuric Iodide (HgI/sub 2/) has been recognized as the best room temperature solid-state, X-ray detection material presently available. While the detection performance of Mercuric Iodide is not as good as liquid nitrogen cooled Si(Li) or Germanium it is already good enough to meet the requirements of several special applications where the simplicity and convenience of room temperature operation are important. The high atomic numbers of Hg and I (80, 53) enable efficient absorption of radiation, and the wide band gap (2.13 eV versus 1.12 eV for silicon) allows operation at room temperature without any significant thermal noise. Poor hole collection, resulting from deep hole trapping centers, is the main limitation in the use of HgI/sub 2/ for high energy (>60 keV) gamma-ray detection, but fortunately this is not a problem for detecting the 5--20 keV X-radiation normally used in crystallography. These lower energy X-rays are absorbed within a few microns of the negative electrode and so the holes do not contribute significantly to the pulse. In such cases, very good energy resolution can be obtained. The present performance characteristics for detection of X-rays: i.e., good energy resolution, long-term stability, and the lack of polarization effects: open a wide range of applications for HgI/sub 2/ detectors. This paper will focus on the different methods used to grow HgI/sub 2/ crystals and on how the method of growth is reflected in detector performance. The state of the art of HgI/sub 2/ detector capabilities is discussed and several of the most attractive applications are pointed out.
- Research Organization:
- Kevex Corp., Foster City, CA 94404
- OSTI ID:
- 6153740
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Crystallogr. Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 18:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HGI2 SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
ENERGY RESOLUTION
PERFORMANCE
MERCURY IODIDES
CRYSTAL GROWTH
X-RAY DETECTION
INSTABILITY
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MONOCRYSTALS
PURIFICATION
CRYSTALS
DETECTION
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IODIDES
IODINE COMPOUNDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RESOLUTION
SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
440101* - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments