Novel method for the growth of high quality cadmium telluride crystals for use in X-ray and gamma-ray sensors

Although widely used as a sensor material for the detection of /spl gamma/ and X radiation, CdTe has proved a difficult material to produce. We report on a vapour phase technique that provides potentially significant advantages over current melt growth technologies. Crystals of 50 mm in diameter with low strain and etch pit densities have been produced.