Progress in Cdl-xZnxTe (CZT) Radiation Detectors

Abstract

ABSTRACTResults of a program to improve the performance of Cd1-xZnxTe detectors by adjusting growth parameters to achieve low-strain, high purity low defect crystals, investigating surface effect phenomena and contacting methods, and establishing reproducible manufacturing methods are reviewed and discussed. Processing and fabrication methods were developed which are applicable throughout the composition range. Energy spectra for room temperature Cdl-xZnxTe detectors exhibit resolutions (FWHM) from 2.16 keV at 14 keV to 6.9 keV at 122 keV. An energy resolution of 910 eV at 5.9 keV was achieved at −25 C. Stable ohmic contacts and gamma ray detection for ZnTe are reported for the first time. Applications of Cdl-xZnxTe to nuclear medicine and X-ray fluorescence are discussed. New gamma ray imagers using Cd1-xZnxTe detector arrays are described, and imaging data for a 32 × 32 monolithic array of 1 mm2 elements on a 42mm × 42mm substrate are presented.