The application of CdTe and CdZnTe 2D array detectors for medical X-ray Com
puted Tomography (XCT) is investigated. Different metallic electrodes have
been deposited on High-Pressure Bridgman Method CdZnTe and on Traveling Hea
ter Method CdTe:Cl. These detectors are exposed to X-rays in the CT irradia
tion conditions and are characterized experimentally in current mode. Detec
tors performances such as sensitivity and response speed are studied. They
are correlated with charge trapping and de-trapping. The trapped carrier sp
ace charges may influence the injection from the electrodes. This enables o
ne to get information on the nature of the predominant levels involved. The
performances achieved are encouraging: dynamic ranges higher than 4 decade
s and current decreases of 3 decades in 4 ms after X-ray beam cut-off are o
btained. Nevertheless, these detectors are still limited by high trap densi
ties responsible for the memory effect that makes them unsuitable for XCT.
(C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. Ail rights reserved.