Present status and perspectives of the radiation detectors based on InP materials

Recent results on the electrical properties and detection performances of t he semi-insulating InP-based detectors and future programmes are presented. Schottky barrier detectors: with a nitride barrier-enhanced interfacial la yer and the Schottky back contacts, using material from MASPEC, exhibited a charge collection efficiency (CCE) over 75% and an energy resolution of 4. 5% full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) for 5.48 MeV alpha -particles at RT, C CE over 90% and FWHM less than 3% at 230 K. Furthermore, they are able to d etect;gamma -rays (122 and 60 keV photons) when cooled down to 240 K. New d etectors, fabricated with liquid-encapsulated Czochralski material (LEC), p roduced with a special high-temperature annealing treatment from Japan Ener gy, coated with an original patented buffer layer and with a symmetrical ci rcular contact configuration using both-sided photolithography and a final electrode metallisation Ti/Pt/Au for both sides, give the best results with a CCE over 88% and a FWHM less than 9% for detection of 122 keV gamma -ray s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.