Optical properties of polycrystalline Cd(1-x)Mn(x)Te

Abstract

Bulk polycrystalline cadmium manganese telluride, Cd(l-x)Mn(x)Te, was manufactured in several compositions by a synthesis process. The structure of the obtained compounds was the characteristic zinc-blende polycrystalline pattern being the grain size lOOj=20 nm. These materials are manufactured to replace single-crystal compounds in some magneto-optical devices. The cut-off wavelength and the Verdet constant are the same as the single-crystals with identical composition. A polarized laser beam, after having passed through a sample of 0.76 mm thickness, was depolarized less than 2.5%, and 90% of its energy was spread into a 2º cone. Scattering of light is produced because of the polycrystalline structure of these ompounds. Some scattering diagrams, due to the diffraction and Mie scattering in the polycrystalline grains are shown.