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Reduction of surface leakage current by surface passivation of CdZn Te and other materials using hyperthermal oxygen atoms

Patent ·
OSTI ID:873473
 [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
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Reduction of surface leakage current by surface passivation of Cd.sub.1-x Zn.sub.x Te and other materials using hyperthermal oxygen atoms. Surface effects are important in the performance of CdZnTe room-temperature radiation detectors used as spectrometers since the dark current is often dominated by surface leakage. A process using high-kinetic-energy, neutral oxygen atoms (.about.3 eV) to treat the surface of CdZnTe detectors at or near ambient temperatures is described. Improvements in detector performance include significantly reduced leakage current which results in lower detector noise and greater energy resolution for radiation measurements of gamma- and X-rays, thereby increasing the accuracy and sensitivity of measurements of radionuclides having complex gamma-ray spectra, including special nuclear materials.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
Assignee:
Regents of University of California (Los Alamos, NM)
Patent Number(s):
US 6168967
OSTI ID:
873473
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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/438/148/
1-x
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