Optical spectra and energy band structure of AgAsS2 crystals

Ground and excited states of three exciton series are observed in the region of fundamental absorption edge of AgAsS₂ crystals. The contours of exciton reflection spectra are calculated and the main parameters of excitons and energy bands are determined in the center of Brillouin zone. The optical reflection spectra are investigated at 30 K in E∥c and E⊥c polarizations in AgAsS₂ crystals in the region of 2-6 eV. The optical functions are calculated from the reflection spectra and a scheme of electronic transitions responsible for peculiarities of reflection spectra deep into the absorption band is proposed.     

Energy band structure and Frenkel excitons in PbGa2S4

Optical reflection spectra are measured and calculated in PbGa₂S₄ crystals in the region of resonances related to excitons with large oscillator strength and binding energy (Frenkel excitons). The splitting of the upper valence band in the center of the Brillouin zone due to crystal field (Δ_cf) and spin orbit (Δ_so) interaction are determined. Optical reflection spectra are measured and calculated according to Kramers-Kronig relations in the region of 3-6 eV in Е⊥с and Е∥с polarizations, and the optical constants n, k, ε₁ and ε₂ are determined. The observed electronic transitions in PbGa₂S₄ crystals are discussed in the frame of theoretical energy band structure calculation for thiogallate crystals.     

Nonlinear refractive indices in Yb3+-doped and undoped monoclinic double tungstates KRE(WO4)2 where RE=Gd, Y, Yb, Lu

The linear absorption bandgap in the ultraviolet and the nonlinear index n ₂ in near infrared were systematically measured in undoped and Yb³⁺-doped top-seeded solution-grown monoclinic double-tungstate KRE(WO₄)₂ (RE=Gd, Y, Yb, Lu) crystals. Anisotropic n ₂ nonlinear indices have been determined for E‖N _m and E‖N _p polarizations with the maximum nonlinear index n ₂ observed for the light polarized E‖N _m. Moreover, the value of the nonlinear response of particular crystals in this family is proportional to the ionic radius of the RE³⁺ ion.     

Birefringence of CuGa2S4 crystals

The interference of optical transmission spectra of thin CuGaS₂ single crystals is measured in E||c and E⊥c polarizations. The spectral dependencies of the refractive indexes n_o, n_e and Δn = n_o − n_e near the absorption edge have been determined from interference spectra. The intersection of refractive indexes at two wavelengths has been revealed at 300 K and 10 K. The characteristics of Band-Pass-Mode Filter and Band-Elimination-Mode Filter have been measured, which possess 7 narrow absorption (transmission) bands and represent a comb filter. The characteristics of these filters have been studied.     

Theoretical explanation of absorption spectra and ESR parameters of Cu in shattuckite

The optical absorption spectra and electronic spin resonance parameters (ESR g factors g_‖, g_⊥ and hyperfine structure constants A_‖, A_⊥) for Cu²⁺ in shattuckite crystal are calculated from the two spin–orbital coupling parameters model, high-order perturbation formulas and complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method (CDM) of 3d⁹ ion in tetragonal symmetry. The calculated results are in good agreement with the observed values. Since the ESR parameters are sensitive to the local structure of a paramagnetic impurity center, the defect structure of Cu²⁺ center in shattuckite crystal is estimated. The results are discussed.     

Exciton and phonon spectra of acoustooptic Tl3AsS3 crystals

The λ-modulated exciton reflection spectra of Tl₃AsS₃ crystals are investigated at 8 and 77 K, in which the ground (n=1) and excited (n=2, 3) exciton states are revealed. Taking into account the spatial dispersion, the shapes of λ-modulated reflection spectra of the n=1 line are calculated and the basic parameters of excitons and bands are determined (the translational and reduced masses of excitons and the effective masses of electrons and light and heavy holes). The one-phonon reflection spectra are studied in the region from 50 to 500 cm^?1 in polarizations E ∥ c and E ⊥ c. The shapes of one-phonon reflection spectra are calculated and the parameters of vibrational modes E and A ₂ are determined.     

Simulation of elasto optical properties of K2SO4 crystals

The electronic optical spectra of the mechanically free and stressed crystals of potassium sulfate, K₂SO₄, in the orthorhombic phase Pnma have been calculated by the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP) code. On the basis of these calculations, the components of stress elasto optical tensors based on the changes of refractive index n (π_im) and birefringence Δn () (i, k, m=1, 2, …, 6) have been obtained for the indices i, k ,m=1, 2, 3. Absolute magnitudes of the calculated tensor π_im are probably underestimated because the magnitudes of the calculated elastic stiffness tensor c_rm are found to be overestimated about two times. Features of the spectral dependences n(E) and k(E) of refractive and absorption indices of the mechanically free and stressed potassium sulfate crystals have been analyzed.     

EPR parameters and local lattice structure study of V ions in CdCl2 and CsMgCl3 crystals

The local lattice structure and EPR parameters (D, g_‖, g_⊥) have been studied systematically on the basis of the complete energy matrix for a d³ configuration ion in a trigonal ligand field. By simulating the calculated optical and EPR spectra data to the experimental results, the local distortion parameters (ΔR, Δθ) are determined for V²⁺ ions in CdCl₂ and CsMgCl₃ crystals, respectively. The results show that the local lattice structure of CdCl₂:V²⁺ system exhibits a compression distortion (ΔR=−0.0868 Å) while that of CsMgCl₃:V²⁺ system exists an elongation distortion (ΔR=0.0165 Å). The different distortion may be ascribed to the fact that the radius of V²⁺ ion is smaller than that of Cd²⁺ ion or larger than that of Mg²⁺ ion. Moreover, the relationships between EPR parameter D and local structure parameters (R, θ) as well as the orbital reduction factor k and g‐factors (g_‖, g_⊥) are discussed.     

Perpendicular anisotropy and magneto-optical Kerr effect of (Ni/Pd) multilayers

Nickel film, with total thickness t_Ni in the range 1000-2000 Å, is known to exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), if the film has been deposited at room temperature. This phenomenon is due to the magneto-elastic (ME) effect. The same is also true for the (Ni/Pd)_n multilayers, where n is the period (n≥3). In this paper, we have made two kinds of multilayers: one, which does not have a Pd cap layer, belongs to the A-group, and the other, which has, belongs to the B-group. The polar Kerr rotation θ_k, the polar Kerr ellipticity ε_k, and the figure of merit (θ_k)²R, where R is the reflectance, were measured for the two wavelengths, i.e. λ=633 and 442 nm, respectively. The effective PMA energy K_⊥ was measured from the vibrating sample magnetometer. It was found that the most favorable multilayer for the magneto-optical (MO) application exists among the A-group samples: i.e. the t_Ni=1300 Å, t_Pd=50 Å (seed layer), and n=1 sample. We obtained θ_k=−9.76 min, ε_k=−9.13 min, (θ_k)²R=1.51 (rad)² at λ=442 nm, and K_⊥=3.21×10⁶ erg/cc for this optimal multilayer. Finally, the effects of the Pd seed layer on PMA and MO are also studied.     

Optical studies of (NH4)2SO4 single crystal in the paraelectric phase

Transmittance and absorbance spectra of (NH₄)₂SO₄ single crystals along [010] direction were measured at different temperatures (296, 308, 318, 328 and 348 K) in the paraelectric phase. The absorption coefficient was computed and the analysis of the data revealed the existence of two optical transitions in (NH₄)₂SO₄ single crystals. The direct and indirect band gaps were shifted towards the longer wavelength with increasing temperature. The data on the allowed indirect transition was analyzed and interpreted in terms of two valence bands originated by spin orbit interaction and crystal field splitting. The momenta E_p were calculated as the difference between E_g1, the first valence to conduction band, and E_g2 for the second valence band at different temperatures. The results of extinction coefficient (k), the refractive index (n), and dielectric constants (ε) were also discussed and calculated as a function of wave length (λ). The heat treatment of the crystals proved that the variations of these optical parameters can be consequence of the internal microstructure changes caused by annealing.     

Structure, thermally and optically induced effects in amorphous As2Se3 films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Thin amorphous As-Se films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and by classical thermal evaporation techniques. Raman spectra and optical properties (optical gap, E_g^opt, index of refraction, n, third-order non-linear susceptibility, χ⁽³⁾) of prepared films and their photo- and thermally induced changes were studied. The structure of laser deposited films was close to the corresponding bulk glasses contrary to thermal evaporated films. The composition of PLD films was practically unchanged during the process of deposition. The optically and thermally induced changes of n and of E_g^opt in PLD films are different from the changes in thermally deposited films. The differences are discussed.     

Interference of resonance luminescence of exciton polaritons in CuGaS2 crystals

The nonmodulated and wavelength-modulated reflection spectra of CuGaS₂ crystals for the polarization EIIc of 10 K are studied. The states n = 1, 2 and 3 of the excitons Γ₄ (A-excitons) and n = 1, n = 2 of B- and C-excitons are found. The nonmodulated absorption spectra for the polarization E⊥c at 10 K have been studied. The states n = 1, 2 and 3 of Γ₅ excitons are found. The main parameters of the A (Γ₄, Γ₅) and B, C exciton series at the energies of the longitudinal and transverse excitons Γ₄ for the states n = 1 and n = 2, the effective masses of electrons and holes are determined. The photoluminescence peaks were observed at n = 3 and n = 4 of the excitons Γ₅ in the luminescence spectra excited by the line 4880 Å of Ar⁺ laser. In the luminescence spectra the interference is found.     

Optical anisotropy of orthorhombic InS

The optical anisotropy of InS single crystals in the range of photon energy from 1.8 to 3.5 eV has been studied by absorption, electroreflectance and wavelength-derivative reflectance measurements. These systematic optical measurements for the polarizations, E//a and E//b, have revealed that the transition at the fundamental absorption edge of InS is allowed for E//b, and there exist three distinct doublet transitions having different selection rules in the photon energy region from 2 to 3.5 eV; Bo and B^'₀doublet allowed only for E//b, A₀ and A^'₀ allowed only for E//a, and E₁ and E^'₁ allowed for both polarizations. The observed results are discussed based on the anisotropic nature of two chemical bonds in InS, cation-cation and cation-anion.     

Influence of Fe ions in characteristics and optical properties of mesoporous titanium oxide thin films

Fe-doped mesoporous titanium dioxide (M-TiO₂-Fe) thin films have been prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates by sol–gel and spin coating methods. All films exhibited mesoporous structure with the pore size around 5–9 nm characterized by small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD) and further confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Raman spectra illustrated that lower Fe-doping contributed to the formation of nanocrystalline of M-TiO₂-Fe thin films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data indicated that the doped Fe ions exist in forms of Fe³⁺, which can play a role as e⁻ or h⁺ traps and reduce e⁻/h⁺ pair recombination rate. Optical properties including refractive indices/n, energy gaps/E_g and Urbach energy width/E₀ of the thin films were estimated and investigated by UV/vis transmittance spectra. The presence of Fe content extended the light absorption band and decreased the values of n, implying enhanced light response and performance on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The optimum Fe content in M-TiO₂-Fe thin films is determined as 10 mol%, for its compatibility of well crystalline and well potential electron transfer performance.     

Influence of chemical bond length changes on the crystal field strength and “ligand-metal” charge transfer transitions in Cs2GeF6 doped with Mn and Os ions

Detailed study of dependence of the crystal field strength 10Dq and lowest charge transfer (CT) energies for different interionic distances in Cs₂GeF₆:Mn⁴⁺ and Cs₂GeF₆:Os⁴⁺crystals is presented. The calculations were performed using the first-principles discrete-variational Dirac-Slater (DV-DS) method. As a result, the functional dependencies of 10Dq and lowest CT energy on the metal-ligand distance R were obtained without any fitting or semiempirical parameters. It was shown that 10Dq depends on R as 1/Rⁿ, with n=4.0612 and 4.3874 for Cs₂GeF₆:Mn⁴⁺ and Cs₂GeF₆:Os⁴⁺, respectively. Two approximations (linear and quadratic) are obtained for the dependence of the lowest CT energy on R; CT energy decreases when R increases with dE(CT)/dR=−638 and −1080 cm⁻¹/pm for Cs₂GeF₆:Mn⁴⁺ and Cs₂GeF₆:Os⁴⁺, respectively, if the linear approximation is used. These values can be used for estimations of the lowest CT energies for Mn⁴⁺ and Os⁴⁺ ions in other hosts with fluorine ligands. Estimations of the electron-vibrational interaction (EVI) constants, Huang-Rhys parameters, and Stokes shifts for all the above-mentioned crystals were performed using the obtained 10Dq and E(CT) functions.     

Optical properties of Tl3SbS3 acousto-optic crystals

Optical properties of acousto-optical material Tl₃SbS₃ were investigated at the fundamental absorption edge. The basic (n = 1) and excited (n = 2, 3) exciton states were obtained from the λ-modulated reflection spectra for polarizations E⊥c at 10 K. Taking into account the spatial dispersion we determined the parameters of excitons by calculating the spectra shapes of λ-modulated reflection of line n = 1 and estimated values of the zone-translation masse and the reduced effective masse of excitons, the effective masse of electrons , heavy and light holes.     

Paramagnetic susceptibilities, crystal field Stark energies and hyperfine properties of Eu in europium trifluoromethanesulfonate nonahydrate

Hexagonal single crystals of europium trifluoromethanesulfonate nonahydrate (EuTFMS) have been prepared. The paramagnetic susceptibility perpendicular to the symmetry axis (c-axis, χ_⊥) and the principal magnetic anisotropy (Δχ=χ_||−χ_⊥) were measured in the temperature range of 300-13 and 300-80 K, respectively. The paramagnetic susceptibility parallel to the c-axis (χ_||) was calculated using the values of χ_⊥ and Δχ. χ_|| and χ_⊥ increase slowly with decrease of temperature and below ∼93 K, χ_⊥ is more or less constant. But χ_|| levels off below ∼137 K. The calculated value of the effective magnetic moment (P_eff) of Eu³⁺ in the crystalline environment of EuTFMS decreases with lowering of temperature. The Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of EuTFMS were recorded in the wavenumber range of 10-1800 and 370-6000 cm⁻¹, respectively. A good theoretical simulation of the observed magnetic properties including the CF Stark energies of the ground term (⁷F) extracted from the Raman and FTIR spectra of Eu³⁺ in EuTFMS have been achieved using one electron crystal field (CF) analysis. The electronic specific heat and other relevant CF dependent hyperfine properties, viz, nuclear quadrupole splitting and hyperfine specific heat have been computed.     

Investigations of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters and defect structures for Gd ions in YMO4 (M=V, P, As) crystals

A 56×56 energy matrix containing the ground multiplet ⁸S_7/2 and the excited multiplets ⁶L_7/2 (where L=P, D, F, G, H, I) for 4f⁷ ion Gd³⁺ at a tetragonal crystal field and under an external magnetic field is constructed. By diagonalizing the energy matrix, the spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factors g_‖, g_⊥ and zero-field splittings b₂⁰, b₄⁰, b₄⁴, b₆⁰, b₆⁴) for Gd³⁺ ion at the tetragonal Y³⁺ site of YMO₄ (M=V, P, As) crystals are calculated. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. The defect structures of Gd³⁺ centers in YMO₄ crystals are estimated from the calculation. The results are discussed.     

Structural, absorption and optical dispersion characteristics of rhodamine B thin films prepared by drop casting technique

The drop casting technique has been successfully used to deposit highly uniform and good adhesion rhodamine B (Rh.B) thin films. The structural and morphological properties of Rh.B were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The molecular structure and electronic transitions of Rh.B were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-VIS-NIR) spectra, respectively. The calculated Stokes shift between the excitation and emission of Rh.B reflects the displacement in potential surface between the ground and the excited states. The important absorption parameters such as molar extinction coefficient (ε_molar), the oscillator strength (f), and the electric dipole strength (q²) were also reported. The analysis of the spectral behavior of the absorption coefficient in the intrinsic absorption region reveals an indirect allowed transition with a band gap of 1.97 eV and associated phonons of 75 meV. The dispersion of the refractive index is discussed in terms of the single oscillator Wemple-Didomenico (WD) model. The single oscillator energy (E_o), the dispersion energy (E_d), the high frequency dielectric constant (ε_∞), the lattice dielectric constant (ε_L) and the ratio of the free charge carrier concentration to the effective mass (N / m^?) were estimated. From the optical constants analysis, the optical conductivity, volume and surface energy loss functions could also be calculated.