Abstract
Absorption and reflectivity near the fundamental absorption edge have been measured in the HgTe-CdTe alloy series for CdTe concentrations of up to 28%. In the HgTe rich region, the edge shifts to longer wave-lengths with decreasing temperature. For HgTe, the absorption rises to 2× at eV. Absorption did not decrease below 1.4× at room temperature. The theory of optical absorption in zincblende compounds is reviewed. Absorption in this alloy series agrees with theory for direct transitions with an energy-independent matrix element evaluated by Kane for InSb. Analysis of reflectivity in HgTe indicates an electron effective mass of at 100°C.
- Received 5 November 1963
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.134.A226
©1964 American Physical Society