Reduction of Thermo-Mechanical Stresses Druing Growth of LaBr3

Significant improvements in cost and performance of X-ray and ¿ -ray detectors, needed to fulfill DOE responsibilities with respect to nuclear nonproliferation, can be achieved through the availability of high-quality radiation detector materials. This project will develop a novel method for the production of these radiation detector materials. In Phase I, the production process was demonstrated for the growth of germanium and cadmium zinc telluride, and the viability for the growth of other materials, such as lathanum Bromide, was established. The results to date indicate that the materials grown by this technique have a low density of crystalline and point defects, with high single-crystal yield. In Phase II, the process will be further developed, leading to a commercially viable technology for growth of large size, high quality detector materials. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Large-volume, high-quality, single-crystal detector materials, such as cadmium zinc telluride would enable the fabrication of sensitive and compact radiation detectors with applications in nuclear nonproliferation monitoring, medical diagnostics, homeland security, and the nuclear industry