Optical Properties of Single-Crystal Films of CdCr2S4

Abstract
We report on the preparation and optical properties of single-crystal films of CdCr2 S4. The present data show no large blue shift associated with magnetic ordering near the Curie temperature contrary to that previously observed in bulk CdCr2 S4 data. A large red shift correlated to the magnetic ordering is observed for a peak in the highly absorbing region. The weakness and narrowness of this absorption is inconsistent with that expected for band-to-band transitions resulting in unbound electrons and holes. We suggest an exciton model to explain this absorption.