Radiation responsive device

Radiation responsive device comprising:

• a semiconductor body having a carrier collection surface adapted to receive said radiation, metallic contacts connected to said body for substantially collecting electrons and holes generated by incident radiation in the active volume of said semiconductor body as external current,
• said semiconductor body comprising
• a crystalline semiconductor region of a given conductivity type having defects therein selected from the class consisting of linear and planar defects which are topologically connected to said radiation receptive surface including therewith recombination centers thereat for charge carriers,
• zones of relatively high dopant concentrations of opposite conductivity type proximate respectively to said defects and which substantially envelop them for establishing an electric field pattern in said active volume of said semiconductor body which repels one of said electrons or holes, and collects the other of said electrons or holes, and
• semiconductor junction means in association with said semiconductor region which together with said zones of dopant concentrations establishes said electric field pattern.