High-purity germanium crystal growing

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6309955

Hansen, W L; Haller, E E

The germanium crystals used for the fabrication of nuclear radiation detectors are required to have a purity and crystalline perfection which is unsurpassed by any other solid material. These crystals should not have a net electrically active impurity concentration greater than 10/sup 10/cm/sup -3/ and be essentially free of charge trapping defects. Such perfect crystals of germanium can be grown only because of the highly favorable chemical and physical properties of this element. However, ten years of laboratory scale and commercial experience has still not made the production of such crystals routine. The origin and control of many impurities and electrically active defect complexes is now fairly well understood but regular production is often interrupted for long periods due to the difficulty of achieving the required high purity or to charge trapping in detectors made from crystals seemingly grown under the required conditions. The compromises involved in the selection of zone refining and crystal grower parts and ambients is discussed and the difficulty in controlling the purity of key elements in the process is emphasized. The consequences of growing in a hydrogen ambient are discussed in detail and it is shown how complexes of neutral defects produce electrically active centers.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 6309955
• Journal Information: Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States), Journal Name: Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States) Vol. 16; ISSN MRSPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360102 -- Metals & Alloys-- Structure & Phase Studies
440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CRYSTAL GROWTH
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
GE SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
GERMANIUM
IMPURITIES
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
PURIFICATION
RADIATION DETECTORS
SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
THERMODYNAMICS