SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION OF ACCEPTOR STATES IN ALUMINUM ANTIMONIDE

Photoexcitation spectra associated with acceptors in p-type aluminum antimonide have been studied. Four sets of sharp photoexcitation lines are observed at liquid-helium temperature; they are absent at liquid-nitrogen or higher temperatures. Equal spacings between pairs of prominent lines in three of these spectra are consistent with an effective-mass-like description for the excited states. The effect of uniaxial stress on several of the acceptor photoexcitation lines has been studied for compressive force F parallel to a111a or a100a. The splittings and the polarization patterns may be interpreted if it is assumed that the acceptor centers have Td site symmetry, and that the bound hole states are not sensitive to a possible departure from a germaniumlike valence band with its maximum at k=0. © 1969 The American Physical Society.