Minority-carrier-lifetime determination in Hg0.68Cd0.32Te

Abstract
Values for the electron minority‐carrier lifetime τn in Hg0.68Cd0.32Te photodiodes were independently determined by two indirect techniques. Measurements of the junction resistance under zero bias at 210 K yield τn=2.3×10−7 sec, and diffusion length measurements give τn=2.9×10−7 sec. These results are in agreement with our calculations for radiative lifetime in p‐type Hg0.68Cd0.32Te. Similar measurements on gold‐doped material indicate a lifetime shorter by almost three orders of magnitude, and it is suggested that this is due to recombination associated with Shockley‐Read centers.