Electric field distributions in CdZnTe due to reduced temperature and x-ray irradiation

Real-time Pockels imaging is performed on semi-insulating CdZnTe to measure the electric field profile in the material bulk. In steady-state room temperature conditions the measured electric field profile is uniform, consistent with a low space charge concentration. At temperatures < 270 K a significant nonuniform electric field profile is observed, which we explain in terms of temperature-induced band bending at the metal-semiconductor interface, causing the formation of positive space charge in the bulk. Similar electric field distortion effects are observed when room temperature CdZnTe is irradiated by x-rays, causing a high rate of photoinduced charge injection.