Abstract
Synthetic single crystals of CdS, CdSe, and CdTe have been produced by the reaction of cadmium vapor with S, Se, and Te, respectively. These "incomplete phosphors" show no phosphorescence but strongly developed photo-conductivity. Photo-cells made from these crystals are extremely sensitive in the whole region from the infra-red down to the ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma-rays and for corpuscular rays, alpha- and beta-rays. Two different mechanisms of photo-conductivity occur. The normal photo-conductivity in the region of strong absorption from the blue to the ultraviolet, and the selective photo-conductivity in the region of weak absorption in the visible, x-rays, and corpuscular-rays region. The phenomena observed are in general accordance with the zonal theory of phosphorescence.
- Received 4 June 1947
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.72.594
©1947 American Physical Society