Photoluminescence variations associated with the deposition of palladium electrical contacts on detector-grade mercuric iodide.

Specimens of mercuric iodide with evaporated semitransparent palladium contacts have been studied using low-temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy. Distinct differences were found between spectra taken from beneath the Pd contacts and those taken from regions on the HgI2 sample that were masked during the Pd deposition, indicating that contact fabrication can change the defect structure near the contact/substrate interface. Comparison of the spectra from spots beneath the contacts with spectra from bulk material specimens and HgI2 detectors graded in terms of their nuclear detection performance suggests that the processing steps used to deposit electrical contacts and the choice of contact material may have a significant influence on detector performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]