Abstract
The authors review the experimental investigations carried out on IV-VI artificially structured materials are summarised. The problems related to the determination of band offsets are discussed and special emphasis is given to strain effects and the consequences of interdiffusion. Deviations from the bulk magnetic behaviour reported in dilute magnetic IV-VI quantum well structures are presented. The unique structural properties of layered PbGeTe/PbTe which exhibit a stabilisation of the cubic phase are discussed.