The Response of Ge:Hg Photoconductors to Chopped and Scanned Illumination.

Abstract

Studies were carried out on mercury-doped germanium (Ge:Hg) photoconductors with both chopped and scanned illumination at 3.39 micrometers, over 4 to 5 orders of magnitude in light intensity, and a wide range of pulse widths and background levels. Contrary to the prediction of the dielectric relaxation model, a slightly sublinear response with light intensity was observed. In addition to the dielectric relaxation response time, another time constant that is about two orders of magnitude greater is present. It is this longer time constant that controls the approach to steady state conditions. Signals from focused, scanned beams were compared to those from uniforms, chopped beams and showed that little degradation resulted from the focusing effect, but as much as 30 percent degradation could result from scanning. It is suggested that some of these anomalous effects result from the characteristics of the contact at the anode. (Modified author abstract)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 06, 1974
Accession Number
AD0784830

Entities

People

  • Lee W. Aukerman
  • Michael F. Millea

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Degradation
  • Germanium
  • Illumination
  • Intensity
  • Micrometers
  • Photoconductors
  • Scanning
  • Steady State

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Spectroscopy.