Cadmium telluride photovoltaic radiation detector

Patent · Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6343999

Agouridis, D C; Fox, R J

A dosimetry-type radiation detector is provided which employs a polycrystalline, chlorine-compensated cadmium telluride wafer fabricated to operate as a photovoltaic current generator used as the basic detecting element. A photovoltaic junction is formed in the wafer by painting one face of the cadmium telluride wafer with an n-type semiconductive material. The opposite face of the wafer is painted with an electrically conductive material to serve as a current collector. The detector is mounted in a hermetically sealed vacuum containment. The detector is operated in a photovoltaic mode (Zero bias) while dc coupled to a symmetrical differential current amplifier having a very low input impedance. The amplifier converts the current signal generated by radiation impinging upon the barrier surface face of the wafer to a voltage which is supplied to a voltmeter calibrated to read quantitatively the level of radiation incident upon the detecting wafer.

• Assignee: Department of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4243885
• Application Number: TRN: 81-015340
• OSTI ID: 6343999
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 25 Sep 1979; Other Information: PAT-APPL-078759
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CDTE SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
DESIGN
AMPLIFIERS
CADMIUM TELLURIDES
CHLORINE
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
VOLTMETERS
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ELECTRIC MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
HALOGENS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NONMETALS
RADIATION DETECTORS
SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
TELLURIDES
TELLURIUM COMPOUNDS
440101* - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
440102 - Radiation Instrumentation- Radiation Dosemeters