Switching Properties and Photoconduction in GaSe

Switching properties have been observed on single crystals of GaSe. It is pointed out that other single crystal materials which show this property also possess a layer structure. Furthermore it is noted that such a structure could easily result in a high density of dislocations and faults, producing what is in effect a one dimensional glass. A study of the decay of the photocurrent in GaSe gives evidence for the existence of a continuum of localized energy levels in the forbidden gap, analogous to those found in amorphous semiconductors.