Optical Constants of the Eu Chalcogenides Above and Below the Magnetic Ordering Temperatures

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Abstract
The optical constants of the Eu chalcogenides between 1 and 6 eV have been obtained by means of a reflection technique for single crystals and transmission measurements for evaporated thin films. The films have been cooled below the magnetic transition temperature and the transmission was measured with linearly and circularly polarized light in external magnetic fields. In addition the Faraday effect of thin films in the energy range of 1 to 3.5 eV has been observed. Below the Curie point the lowest energy absorption peak is split into three polarization-dependent maxima and the absorption peak between 4 and 5 eV into a doublet. The data suggest transitions from the localized 4f7 states into the spin-split states, respectively, 4f6(7FJ)5d(t2g and 4f6(7FJ)5d(eg). The specific Faraday rotation of EuS at 2.2 eV is 550 000°/cm, the largest rotation yet observed for a nonmetallic compound.

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