Next Generation Semiconductor-Based Radiation Detectors Using Cadmium Magnesium Telluride

Technical Report · Mon Nov 17 00:00:00 EST 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1165052· OSTI ID:1165052

Trivedi, Sudhir B ^[1]; Kutcher, Susan W ^[1]; Palsoz, Witold ^[1]; Berding, Martha ^[2]; Burger, Arnold ^[1]

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1. Brimrose Technology Corporation, Sparks Glencoe, MD (United States)
2. SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)

The primary objective of Phase I was to perform extensive studies on the purification, crystal growth and annealing procedures of CdMgTe to gain a clear understanding of the basic material properties to enable production of detector material with performance comparable to that of CdZnTe. Brimrose utilized prior experience in the growth and processing of II-VI crystals and produced high purity material and good quality single crystals of CdMgTe. Processing techniques for these crystals including annealing, mechanical and chemical polishing, surface passivation and electrode fabrication were developed. Techniques to characterize pertinent electronic characteristics were developed and gamma ray detectors were fabricated. Feasibility of the development of comprehensive defect modeling in this new class of material was demonstrated by our partner research institute SRI International, to compliment the experimental work. We successfully produced a CdMgTe detector that showed 662 keV gamma response with energy resolution of 3.4% (FWHM) at room temperature, without any additional signal correction. These results are comparable to existing CdZnTe (CZT) technology using the same detector size and testing conditions. We have successfully demonstrated detection of gamma-radiation from various isotopes/sources, using CdMgTe thus clearly proving the feasibility that CdMgTe is an excellent, low-cost alternative to CdZnTe.

• Research Organization: Brimrose Technology Corporation, Sparks Glencoe, MD (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office Of Science (SC)
• Contributing Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0011328
• OSTI ID: 1165052
• Report Number(s): DOE-BTC-11328; 14SC500368 (Purchase Request or Funding Document)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
STTR Report
Gamma-Ray Detectors
Cadmium Magnesium Telluride
Cadmium Zinc Telluride
Nuclear Physics
Wide-Bandgap II-VI Semiconductor
CdTe