Fast Neutron Irradiation of PbS and InSb Infrared Detectors.

Abstract

The effects of fast neutron irradiations on lead sulfide and indium antimonide infrared detectors is reported. A threshold for lead sulfide detectors has been established at 2 x 10 to the 12th power n/sq cm with approximately 75% of the degradation attributable to a reduction in majority carrier lifetime. When stored at 300K, the detectors return to their original condition in tens to hundreds of days. Restoration of signal proceeds logarithmically with time rather than exponentially as is usually observed. For indium antimonide photovoltaic detectors, a threshold of 2 x 10 to the 11th power n/sq cm has been observed. Measurements show that neutron irradiations produce both an increase in noise and a decrease in signal. These effects result from a decrease in (1) the leakage resistance, (2) the effective carrier lifetime in the depletion region and (3) the hole diffusion length in the base region. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1974
Accession Number
AD0777676

Entities

People

  • B. Molnar
  • C. S. Guenzer
  • N. D. Wilsey
  • W. J. Moore

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antimonides
  • Degradation
  • Detectors
  • Diffusion
  • Fast Neutrons
  • Indium
  • Indium Antimonides
  • Infrared Detectors
  • Measurement
  • Neutron Bombardment
  • Neutrons
  • Resistance
  • Warning Systems

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Semiconductor Device Technology