Raman spectra of α-GaTe single crystals

Raman-active lattice vibrational modes of GaTe have been investigated at 300°K in the frequency range 13–300 cm^-1. The spectra of the Bridgman grown crystals were excited with the 1.06 μm line of the continuously operated YAG : Nd³⁺ laser. Fourteen Raman bands were observed. All phonon modes have been assigned on the basis of their observed polarisation dependence to an irreducible representation of the appropriate point group. The results are consistent with the existence of GaTe in monoclinic α-polytype (C³_2h).