This article is cited in 5 papers

Lattice dynamics

Manifestation of anomalous properties of HgTe lattice vibrations in Hg$_{1-x}$Z$_x$Te (Z = Cd, Mn, Zn) alloys

S. P. Kozyrev

P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

Abstract: Alloys (solid solutions) Hg$_{1-x}$Z$_x$Te (Z = Cd, Mn, Zn) with a variation in their composition are characterized by the double-mode type of rearrangement of the vibrational spectrum of the crystal lattice, and these alloys retain the properties of lattice vibrations of the binary alloy components. The HgTe-enriched alloys under consideration also retain the anomalous properties of HgTe lattice vibrations with their additional low-frequency 105 cm$^{-1}$ mode, which is forbidden according to the symmetry selection rules. An analysis has been made of the specific features of the manifestation of the 105 cm$^{-1}$ mode in the alloys as compared to HgTe, in particular, its splitting into several modes $\omega_n$ ($n$ = 0, 1, 2) due to the presence of two cations Hg and Z (Cd, Mn, Zn) in the cation sublattice. The thermal activation of the low-frequency 105 cm$^{-1}$ mode in the HgMnTe and HgZnTe alloys almost coincides with that observed in HgTe, but the activation energy of the mode for HgCdTe differs substantially from that for HgTe. Moreover, the conditions providing the activation of the 105 cm$^{-1}$ mode in the $n$-HgCdTe and $p$-HgCdTe alloys are different.

Received: 08.12.2009
Accepted: 31.05.2010

 English version: Physics of the Solid State, 2011, 53:1, 163–174

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