Characterization and selected physical properties of CdTe/MnTe short period strained superlattices

Phonon excitations in (CdTe)12/(MnTe)n (100) superlattices (n = 2, 4, 8) were investigated at 295 K and 25 K with the use of Raman scattering. From the 'folded' phonon frequencies the elastic constant c11 value for MnTe was estimated. The strain arising from lattice mismatch (determined by X-ray diffraction) results in shifts of MnTe and CdTe 'confined' LO frequencies. For the precise determination of LO phonon dispersions an additional shift due to Mn diffusion at the CdTe/MnTe interface should be taken into account. (author)