title: Progress in the Development of CdTe and CdZnTe Semiconductor Radiation Detectors for Astrophysical and Medical Applications.
abstract: Over the last decade, cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) wide band gap semiconductors have attracted increasing interest as X-ray and gamma ray detectors. Among the traditional high performance spectrometers based on silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), CdTe and CdZnTe detectors show high detection efficiency and good room temperature performance and are well suited for the development of compact and reliable detection systems. In this paper, we review the current status of research in the development of CdTe and CdZnTe detectors by a comprehensive survey on the material properties, the device characteristics, the different techniques for improving the overall detector performance and some major applications. Astrophysical and medical applications are discussed, pointing out the ongoing Italian research activities on the development of these detectors.
authors.affiliation: INAF/IASF Palermo, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano Del
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sordo
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abbene
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caroli
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zappettini
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ubertini