Infrared Absorption by Ag, Cu, and Au Acceptors in ZnTe

Infrared measurements are made on ZnTe doped with Ag, Cu, and Au acceptor impurities. Observed transitions are discussed in the framework of the theory of Baldereschi. The binding energies Ea are (123.8 ± 0.5), (150.3 ± 0.5), and (271.6 ± 0.5) meV for Ag, Cu, and Au impurity, respectively, These results are in good agreement with that deduced from luminescence experiments. The average number of emitted phonons N̄ is deduced for all known acceptors in ZnTe (Li, P, As, Ag, Cu, and Au) using luminescence and IR measurements. An empirical relation N̄ equals; 62E2a is found. The cross‐section for Au in ZnTe is found to be (3.5 ± 0.7) × 10−16 cm2 with an effective field ratio which ranges between 2.3 and 4.