Surface Potential Measurements of Lithium Drifted Germanium Diodes

Anomalous behaviour of the capacitance and gamma detection performance of some wide depletion layer lithium drifted germanium diodes has recently been reported1. The observed effects were explained qualitatively in terms of the type of ions absorbed on the surface of the intrinsic layer2 . Surface potential measurements made with a vibrating condenser probe are presented, which support the theoretical model. The potential probe has also been used to determine the effect of various surface treatments, and thereby assist in the production of diodes having useful low temperature characteristics.