Optical properties of Ge-As-Te thin films

Different compositions of Ge_xAs₁₀Te_90−x (x=5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 at%) chalcogenide glasses were prepared by the usual melt quench technique. Amorphous Ge_xAs₁₀Te_90−x thin films were deposited onto cleaned glass substrates using the thermal evaporation method. Transmission spectra, T(λ), of the films at normal incidence were measured in the wavelength range 400-2500 nm. A straightforward analysis proposed by Swanepoel based on the use of the maxima and minima of the interference fringes has been used to drive the film thickness, d, the complex index of refraction, n, and the extinction coefficient, k. It was found that, the addition of Ge content at the expense of Te atoms shifts the optical band gap to the short wavelength side (blue shift of the optical band gap) while the refractive index are found to decreases. The obtained results of the refractive index were discussed in terms of the electronic polarizability and the single-oscillator Wemple and DiDomenico model (WDD). The optical absorption is due to the allowed non-direct optical transitions. The observed increase in the optical band gap with the increase in Ge content was discussed in terms of the width of the tail states in the gap and the covalent bond approach.