CdTe and CdZnTe crystals for room temperature gamma-ray detectors

CdTe(Cl) detectors from CdTe single crystals, grown by the Bridgman method from Te-rich melt, were fabricated. The quality of the detectors was tested with Co-57 and Am-241 sources. In the Co-57 spectrum low noise is demonstr ated by the presence of a 14 keV peak and good resolution approximate to 7 keV (FWHM) evident from the separation of 122 and 136 keV peaks. A review i s given of the state-of-the-art properties of (CdZn)Te single crystals prep ared for substrates in the Institute of Physics of Charles University. The quality of samples is tested by measurements of the diffusion length of min ority carriers, from which the mobility-lifetime product is evaluated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.