Phonons in red HgI2

A critical analysis of existing experimental and theoretical information on the lattice dynamics of the layered crystal α-HgI₂ is performed. It is shown that a satisfactory understanding of the character of the interatomic interaction and characteristic features of the phonon spectrum of this material can be obtained in a simple phenomenological model with eight parameters, assuming that E _g/B_1g degeneracy of the 29 cm⁻¹ Raman line is of a two-phonon nature. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 537–541 (March 1998)