Effect of Pressure on the Absorption Edges of Some III-V, II-VI, and I-VII Compounds

The effect of pressure to 160 kilobars was measured on the absorption edges of the III-V compounds AlSb, GaSb, InP, and InAs, the II-VI compounds CdS, CdSe, and CdTe, and the I-VII compounds CuCl, CuBr, and CuI. It is possible to discuss the band structure of the III-V compounds with reasonable assurance relative to known group IV and III-V structures. For the II-VI and I-VII compounds, ionic and other effects must be important. A number of new phase transitions were noted at high pressure. For CuCl and CuBr the $T-P$ curves of some of these transitions were established.