Electronic structure and optical properties of Er5Si3

We report a joint experimental and theoretical investigation of optical properties and electronic structure of Er5Si3. Rare-earth alloy optical constants have been measured in the wavelength range 0.22–15μm(0.083–5.64eV), as well as other spectral and electronic characteristics. Spin-polarized calculations of the electronic structure have been performed employing the LSDA+U method accounting for electronic correlations in the 4f shell of Er. All main features of the experimental optical conductivity in the interband region have been well interpreted using the convolution of the calculated densities of states of Er5Si3.