New Interpretation of the Electronic Structure and Optical Spectrum of Amorphous Germanium

The electronic density of states of amorphous germanium is simulated by that of a dilated germanium crystal having the same density as amorphous germanium (3.9 g/cm³). This simulated density of states accounts quite nicely for some recent experimental results obtained by optical and photoemission techniques. The band structure and density of states of a suitable dilated germanium crystal may well be a better starting point for a more sophisticated analysis of the electronic structure of amorphous germanium than their counterparts in normal crystalline germanium.