Quantum size effect in SnTe observed by tunnel experiments

Abstract
In SnTe–Al2O3–Al tunnel junctions with size quantization of the electron states in the SnTe electrode, oscillations of the 2nd derivative of the I(U) characteristics were observed at 4 K. From this it was possible to determine a series of points of the E(k) relation perpendicular to the film plane in a range of ±100 meV around the Fermi energy. The results are in agreement with values calculated from band structure data.