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NASA NTRS1985

Measurement of the characteristic X ray of oxygen and other ultrasoft X rays using mercuric iodide detectors

This letter reports the detection and resolution of the characteristic X-ray of oxygen at 523 eV and other ultrasoft X-rays (photons energy less than 1 keV) using radiation detectors fabricated from the compound semi-insulator mercuric iodide (HgI2). These detectors are capable of operation at room ambient but in these experiments were slightly cooled using a Peltier element to 0 C. A pulsed light feedback preamplifier with a Peltier element cooled (to -30 deg) first stage field-effect transistor was used to amplify signals from the detector. Overall system noise level was 185 eV (full width at half-maximum) limited by the temperature of the first stage field-effect transistor. With optimal cooling of this element the characteristic X-ray of carbon at 282 eV should be measurable. These results would seem to be important in measurement of biological samples in electron column instruments.

Iwanczyk, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1988

X-ray fluorescence analysis of alloy and stainless steels using a mercuric iodide detector

A mercuric iodide detector was used for the XRF analysis of a number of NBS standard steels, applying a specially developed correction method for interelemental effects. It is shown that, using this method and a good peak-deconvolution technique, the HgI2 detector is capable of achieving resolutions and count rates needed in the XRF anlysis of multielement samples. The freedom from cryogenic cooling and from power supplies necessary for an electrically cooled device makes this detector a very good candidate for a portable instrument.

Kelliher, Warren C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Advances in the development of encapsulants for mercuric iodide X-ray detectors

Advances in the development of protective impermeable encapsulants with high transparency to ultra-low-energy X-rays for use on HgI2 X-ray detectors are reported. Various X-ray fluorescence spectra from coated detectors are presented. The X-ray absorption in the encapsulants has been analyzed using characteristic radiation from various elements. Results suggest that low-energy cutoffs for the detectors are not determined solely by the encapsulating coatings presently employed but are also influenced by the front electrode and surface effects, which can affect the local electric field or the surface recombination velocity. An energy resolution of 182 eV (FWHM) has been achieved for Ni L lines at 850 eV. Improved detector sensitivity to X-ray energies under 700 eV is demonstrated.

Iwanczyk, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Miniaturization in x ray and gamma ray spectroscopy

The paper presents advances in two new sensor technologies and a miniaturized associated electronics technology which, when combined, can allow for very significant miniaturization and for the reduction of weight and power consumption in x-ray and gamma-ray spectroscopy systems: (1) Mercuric iodide (HgI2) x-ray technology, which allows for the first time the construction of truly portable, high-energy resolution, non-cryogenic x-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental analyzer systems, with parameters approaching those of laboratory quality cryogenic instruments; (2) the silicon avalanche photodiode (APD), which is a solid-state light sensitive device with internal amplification, capable of uniquely replacing the vacuum photomultiplier tube in scintillation gamma-ray spectrometer applications, and offering substantial improvements in size, ruggedness, low power operation and energy resolution; and (3) miniaturized (hybridized) low noise, low power amplification and processing electronics, which take full advantage of the favorable properties of these new sensors and allow for the design and fabrication of advanced, highly miniaturized x-ray and gamma-ray spectroscopy systems. The paper also presents experimental results and examples of spectrometric systems currently under construction. The directions for future developments are discussed.

Iwanczyk, Jan S.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Vapor transport crystal growth of mercury-cadmium-telluride in microgravity

Two epitaxial growth experiments of Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te layers on (100) CdTe substrates in closed ampoules using HgI2 as a transport agent have been performed during the USML-1 mission. The characterization results to date demonstrate a considerable improvement of the space-grown epitaxial layers relative to ground-control specimens in terms of morphology, compositional uniformity, and structural micro homogeneity. These results show the effects of microgravity and fluid dynamic disturbances on-ground on the deposition and growth processes. The continued analysis of this technologically important system is designed to further elucidate the observed crystallographic improvements and their relation to mass flow.

Wiedemeier, Heribert↗

NASA NTRS1998

Experiment 2: Vapor Transport Crystal Growth of Mercury Cadmium Telluride in Microgravity- USML-2

The new epitaxial growth experiments of Hg(l-x)Cd(x)Te on (100) CdTe substrates by chemical vapor transport (CVT), using HgI2 as a transport agent, were performed in the transient growth regime of this ternary, heteroepitaxial system at normal and reduced gravity during the USML-2 flight. The surface and interface morphology, the compositional and structural uniformity, and carrier mobility of the epitaxial layer and islands grown in microgravity are measurably improved relative to ground specimens. These observations demonstrate the effects of convective flow on the transport, deposition, and growth processes of this solid-vapor system even in the transient growth regime. The properties of the Hg(l-x)Cd(x)Te layer grown in a microgravity environment compare quite favorably to those of layers obtained by other techniques.

Wiedemeier, H.↗