Preparation and characterization of cadmium telluride. Study of nuclear spectrometers

Cadmium telluride single crystals have been grown by three different methods: zone refining, Bridgman and travelling heater method (THM). Characterization has been undertaken especially on the THM ingots by different methods, including time of flight, thermally stimulated current and thermoluminescence. A theoretical level scheme approach has been used to establish the mechanism of self-compensation with halogens. Finally nuclear radiation detection has been prepared and investigated. The following parameters have been considered: detector efficiency, energy resolution, stability in time and under irradiation. Structure suppressing polarization effects in chlorine compensated THM samples are presented