Optical properties of SmSb and TmSb films

Single-phase crystalline films of samarium and thulium monoantimonides were prepared on various substrates by vacuum thermal evaporation from two independent sources. Electro-physical characteristics of main optical parameters are studied in detail and the sensitivity of the observed optical spectra singularities to the value of the rare earth (RE)-ion mixed valency determined by the characteristic L₃ X-ray absorption is shown. The reported experimental results agree well with and represent in many aspects the specific energy band structure of the investigated compounds. (author)