Infrared absorption bands associated with native defects in ZnGeP2

An optical absorption investigation from 10 to 296 K has been performed on bulk crystals of ZnGeP2 grown by the horizontal-gradient-freeze method. We identify three broad absorption bands in the spectral range from 1 to 4 mum that are due to native defects. At low temperature,. a band peaking near 1.2 mum and another band peaking near 2.2 mum have intensities that correlate. The strength of these two absorption bands can be increased of decreased by illuminating the crystal with selected laser wavelengths. The 2.2 mum band is strongly polarized, with its greatest intensity occurring when E is parallel to the c axis of the crystal. A third absorption band, peaking near 2.3 mum and extending from 1.5 mum to beyond 4 mum, was observed at low temperature, during and immediately after illumination. Comparison of. photoinduced changes in absorption with photoinduced changes in electron paramagnetic resonance spectra allowed specific defects to be associated with each of the three absorption bands. Both the 1.2 and the 2.2 mum bands involve the singly ionized zinc vacancy. The third band at 2.3 Am involves neutral phosphorus vacancies. Specific models for the optical transitions are discussed. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.