Photoconduction and Darkening of AgCl Crystals at Low Temperatures

Abstract

Photocurrent of AgCl was measured using light and voltage pulses of about 50 μsec duration between −150°C and −50°C. Experimental results show that the life time of electrons has a maximum between −80°C and −110°C depending on the treatments of the samples. Darkening of the crystals was also measured at lower temperatures, showing that the darkenability increases with temperature higher than −80°C. The results were discussed with models containing sensitivity centers and recombination centers and it seems to be clear that the temperature dependence of the life time is concerned with the darkening properties of the crystals.