Properties of Vapour Phase Grown Mercuric Iodide Single Crystal Detectors

The growth of red mercuric iodide single crystals by a dynamic sublimation method is described. Their characterization has been performed by means of optical and electrical measurements. Nuclear radiation detectors have been prepared with this material and their properties are evaluated in terms of a particles, γ- and X-rays spectrometry, detection efficiency, electron-hole pair creation energy and polarization effects. Finally the potential use of mercuric iodide in nuclear detection is discussed.