Mercuric Iodide Anticoincidence Shield for Gamma-Ray Spectrometer

A film-growth process was developed for polycrystalline mercuric iodide that creates cost-effective, large-area detectors for high- energy charged-particle detection. A material, called a barrier film, is introduced onto the substrate before the normal mercuric iodide film growth process. The barrier film improves the quality of the normal film grown and enhances the adhesion between the film and the substrate.

The films grown using this improved technique were found to have adequate signal-to-noise properties so that individual high-energy charged-particle interactions could be distinguished from noise, and thus, could be used to provide an anticoincidence veto function as desired.

This work was done by Neal Hartsough and Jan Iwanczyk of DxRay, Inc. for Goddard Space Flight Center. For further information, contact the Goddard Innovative Partnerships Office at (301) 286-5810. GSC-15635-1