ISSN:
1089-7550
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) has been applied to measure the composition dependent optical energy gap (Eo), optical absorption coefficient (α), and thermal diffusivity (σs) of glassy Ge15AsxSe85−x (0≤x≤25) alloys. The energy gap is found to decrease with increase of As concentration and shows a threshold behavior around x∼15, which corresponds to the average coordination number 〈r〉∼2.45. This behavior is found to be consistent with the Phillips-Thorpe theory. The variation of the optical gap (Eo) with composition (x) is analyzed on the basis of the Kastner's model of bond energies. The observed exponential edge (Urbach edge) can be considered as an internal Franz-Keldysh effect arising due to the charged impurity generated, as well as "frozen-in'' optical phonon-generated, electric microfields. It could be described in the framework of Tauc and Dow-Redfield model which ascribes the Urbach rule to the ionization of the exciton as an extension of the stark shift. The concentration (x) dependent thermal diffusivity (σs) estimated from the PAS studies also showed a similar critical behavior at the same concentration x (≈15) which arises due to the threshold percolation of rigidity of the system. The measurements of glass transition temperatures (Tg) and the magnetic susceptibilities (χ) of the samples also support this critical behavior around x=15. © 1996 American Institute of Physics.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.363462
