Improved yield of high resolution mercuric iodide gamma-ray spectrometers

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(90)90744-Q· OSTI ID:6812393

Gerrish, V; van den Berg, L

Mercuric iodide (HgI{sub 2}) exhibits properties which make it attractive for use as a solid state nuclear radiation detector. The wide bandgap (E{sub g} = 2.1 eV) and low dark current allow room temperature operation, while the high atomic number provides a large gamma-ray cross section. However, poor hole transport has been a major limitation in the routine fabrication of high-resolution spectrometers using this material. This paper presents the results of gamma-ray response and charge transport parameter measurements conducted during the past year at EG G/EM on 96 HgI{sub 2} spectrometers. The gamma-ray response measurements reveal that detector quality is correlated with the starting material used in the crystal growth. In particular, an increased yield of high-resolution spectrometers was obtained from HgI{sub 2} which was synthesized by precipitation from an aqueous solution, as opposed to using material from commercial vendors. Data are also presented which suggest that better spectrometer performance is tied to improved hole transport. Finally, some initial results on a study of detector uniformity reveal spatial variations which may explain why the correlation between hole transport parameters and spectrometer performance is sometimes violated. 6 refs., 3 figs.

• Research Organization: EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc., Goleta, CA (USA). Santa Barbara Operations
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC08-88NV10617
• OSTI ID: 6812393
• Report Number(s): EGG-10617-2064; CONF-900563-11; ON: DE90012580; TRN: 90-020025
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 299; Journal Issue: 1-3; Conference: 7. symposium on radiation measurements and applications, Ann Arbor, MI (USA), 21-24 May 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
MERCURY IODIDES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
CRYSTAL GROWTH METHODS
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRON-HOLE COUPLING
FABRICATION
GAUSS FUNCTION
PULSES
QUALITY CONTROL
RADIATION MONITORING
RESOLUTION
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SENSITIVITY
STANDARDS
STOICHIOMETRY
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
CONTROL
FUNCTIONS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IODIDES
IODINE COMPOUNDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
MONITORING
SPECTROMETERS
TESTING
440103* - Radiation Instrumentation- Nuclear Spectroscopic Instrumentation
360603 - Materials- Properties
360601 - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture