Growth of PbTe films by laser induced evaporation of pressed PbTe pellets

PbTe films have been deposited on glass substrates by laser ablation from PbTe pellets pressed from high purity Pb and Te powder. X-ray diffraction experiments and optical characterization of the films have been performed as a function of evaporation conditions ( pellet composition and substrate temperature). From transmittance and reflectance measurements the values of the absorption coefficient a, of the refractive index n, and of the extinction coefficient k have been calculated.