Performance and durability of HgI_2 X-ray detectors for space missions

Creators: Iwanczyk, J. S.; Wang, Y. J.; Bradley, J. G.; Conley, J. M.; Albee, A. L.; Economou, T. E.

Abstract

Considerable progress has been achieved in HgI_2 detector fabrication technology and amplification electronics. An energy resolution of 198 eV (full width at half maximum) has been obtained for the Mn K_α line of 5.9 keV in a practical X-ray probe without the use of cryogenic cooling. Detectors prepared with Parylene-C encapsulation have demonstrated perfect reliability in two-year tests under high vacuum and temperature and bias cycling. Other HgI_2 detectors have been used to demonstrate proton-radiation-damage resistance to levels of 10^(12) protons/cm^2 at 10.7 MeV. It is concluded that HgI_2 detectors are suitable for the ordinary requirements of energy dispersive detectors in X-ray spectroscopy systems.

Additional Information

© 1989 IEEE. The research described in this paper was sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The work performed at the University of Southern California Institute of Physics was also supported by NIH grant #5R01 GM37161. The valuable technical assistance of Mrs. F. Riquelme and Messrs N. Dorri and B. Dancy of USC and Mr. V. Taylor of JPL is greatly appreciated. The text was edited by Ms. S.L. Segall.

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