Trap Activation Energy and Transport Parameters of HgI$_2$ Crystals for Bubble-Plasma Diagnostics

Abstract

In recent data on neutron induced acoustic cavitation in deuterium--containing liquids obtained by neutron measurements it was shown that very high temperatures could arise in some special cases. To study temperature of so--called bubble plasma it is desirable to have micro--detectors of X-rays, which can be prepared on the basis of room--temperature semiconductor detectors, in particular on mercuric iodide ($\alpha$--HgI$_2$) crystals. Having in view this aim, the properties of gel--grown ($\alpha$--HgI$_2$) crystals was studied by means of isothermal currents, and trap parameters was estimated. Results are promising for special aim of preparing X-ray detectors with moderate energy resolution needed in bubble--plasma diagnostic, though improving of crystal growing technology is necessary. {\it PACS:} 29.40.Wk; 52.70.La {\it Keywords:} X-ray and gamma--ray measurements; semiconductor detectors; mercuric iodide; plasma diagnostics; cavitation