Effects of Adsorbed Molecules and Gamma Radiation on the Surface Properties of Germanium Diodes
Abstract
The reverse current-voltage characteristics of a germanium grown junction are measured both before and during Cobalt-60 gamma irradiationof 5.65 x 10 exponent 7 ergs/gm C-hour. The ambients are dry oxygen, ozone, and water vapor. For a dry oxygen ambient in radiation, the current rises with increase in voltage until, at a critical value of the voltage, the current drops sharply. No such drop is observed in ozone or water vapor. A theoretical interpretation whereby oxygen molecules are desorbed from the surface is offered to account for the sharp drop. The magnitude of the current below the critical voltage is attributed to an excess surface charge resulting from the transfer of electrons accoss the oxide barrier.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0259720
Entities
People
- David M. Verrelli
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology