High-resolution Hgl2 x-ray spectrometers

Abstract

Several high-resolution HgI2 x-ray detectors have been made from single crystals grown from the vapor phase. Hole and electron transport properties and detector electrical characteristics are described. Measured mobility-lifetime product for electrons is 8×10−5 cm2/V with a μe of 3 cm2/V sec. The mean energy per electron-hole pair is 4.33 eV at 122 keV. Detectors up to 1 mm3 are described, and a resolution as low as 850 eV at 300 °K in air has been obtained for 5.9-keV x rays, which suggests possible x-ray flourescence detection applications.