Photodiodes, phototransistors and solar cells behaviour in environment with gamma and neutron radiation: literature review and experiments

Abstract

Due to its wide application areas, optoelectronic
devices are exposed, in their work enviroment, to different types
of radiation. Photodiodes, phototransistors and solar cells are
most common used optoelectronic devices. Therefore, a number
of experiments were performed on these devices in order to
explain their behavior in the environment with pronounced
gamma and neutron radiation. Especially when these two types
of radiation appear successively. This paper presents review of
these researches and scientific papers based on them. A number
of PIN photodiodes, phototransistors and solar panels have been
exposed to gamma radiation, neutron radiation and, especially, to
their combination. Several types of photodiodes, phototransistors
and solar panels were used in the experiment. I-V characteristics
(current dependance on voltage) and other output parameters
have been measured before and after irradiation. Some unusual
behavior were observed.