Temperature-dependent optical properties of Pb1−xMnxSe films epitaxially grown on Zn0.04Cd0.96Te substrates

We report temperature-dependent optical transmission studies on Pb1−xMnxSe films grown on Zn0.04Cd0.96Te substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. The measurements were carried out from liquid nitrogen temperature to room temperature and in the frequency range of 400-4000 cm−1. The transition energy Eg of 0.215 eV, damping parameter Γ of 4.1 meV, refractive index of 5.0, and Urbach bandtail parameter Eu of ∼8 meV were determined by fitting the experimental transmission spectra for Pb1−xMnxSe at, for instance, x = 0.038 and 85 K. Other parameters, such as absorption coefficient α, the oscillator strength A, and the background dielectric constant ɛ∞ were also obtained. Temperature dependences of Γ and Eu indicate stronger carrier-phonon interactions in the Pb1−xMnxSe films.