Effect of Weak Magnetic Fields on the Electric Properties of CdTe Crystals

Abstract

The effect of static and pulsed magnetic fields (~1 T) on the electrical conductivity of CdTe crystals has been revealed. With a delay after the magnetic exposure of crystals, the effect is observed in the form of two peaks of their conductivity with the subsequent relaxation return. The first peak at both types of magnetic treatment is observed ~1 h after exposure and its amplitude exceeds the background value by ~23–36% (the larger value corresponds to the static field). The second peak appears in both cases also at commensurate but much larger delays of ~50–60 h, and its amplitudes are much different for the two types of exposure, exceeding the background by ~60% for the static field and only by ~11% for the pulsed field. Possible mechanisms of the observed effects have been discussed.