Evidence of Electrical Interactions between Photo-Induced Charge Carriers and Moving Dislocations in Red Mercuric Iodide

Abstract

ABSTRACTVariations in both the hole and the electron photocurrents in single crystals of mercuric iodide (HgI2) are measured during plastic deformation by shearing over (001) planes. The results demonstrate the presence of electrical interactions between moving “easy glide” dislocations and photo-induced charge carriers in HgI2. It is found that both hole and electron photocurrents are decreased during dislocation motion and that the extent of this effect (and the subsequent recovery after deformation ceases) depends on the applied bias.