Radiation detector

1 . A radiation detector made from a compound comprising: Cd x Zn 1-x Te, where 0≦x≦1; an element from column III or column VII of the periodic table in a concentration about 10 to 10,000 atomic parts per billion; and a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu in a concentration about 10 to 10,000 atomic parts per billion.

2 . A method of forming a radiation detector compound comprising:

(a) providing a mixture of Cd, Zn and Te;

(b) heating the mixture to a liquid state;

(c) adding to the liquid mixture a first dopant that adds shallow level donors (electrons) to the top of an energy band gap of said mixture when it is solidified;

(d) adding to the liquid mixture a second dopant that adds deep level donors and/or acceptors to the middle of said band gap of said mixture when it is solidified; and

(e) solidifying said mixture including said first and second dopants to form the compound.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first dopant is an element from column III or column VII of the periodic table.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first dopant is an element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, F, Cl, Br and I.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a concentration of the first dopant in the compound is about 10 to 10,000 atomic parts per billion.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second dopant is an element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.

7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a concentration of the second dopant in the compound is about 10 to 10,000 atomic parts per billion.