Relaxation of electrical properties of epitaxial CdxHg1-xTe:: As(Sb) layers converted into n-type by ion milling

Results of the studies of relaxation of electrical properties of As- and Sb-Aoped CdxHg1-xTe epitaxial layers, which were converted into n-type by ion milling (IM), are presented. It is demonstrated that donor complexes, which are formed under IM and arc responsible for p-to-n conductivity type conversion, are not stable., and their concentration decreases upon storage even at the room temperature. The relaxation at room temperature results in electron concentration in converted layers decreasing from the initial value of similar to(2-3)center dot 10(15) cm(-3) right after the milling down to the value of similar to 10(15) cm(-3). Increasing the temperature of the storage speeds up the relaxation. The process responsible for the relaxation appeared to be the disintegration of the donor complexes, which starts after the end of the IM and is caused by the decrease in concentration of interstitial mercury atoms, generated by milling.