Resonant Raman scattering of CdCr2Se4

The scattering cross section of the Raman-active phonons at 156 cm^?1 (Eg) and 169 cm^?1 (F2g) in the ferromagnetic semiconductor CdCr₂Se₄ (T_c=130 K) has been measured as a function of incident photon energy between 1.55 and 2.81 eV, both in the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. The resonance curve peaks sharply near 2 eV and shows a broadening for temperatures below the Curie point. The relative line intensities change significantly with photon energy. The results show that the concept of spin-dependent Raman scattering in the ferromagnetic spinels has to be revised in terms of exchange-splitting-induced resonant Raman scattering.