Calculation of Optical Absorption in Ferromagnetic H.C.P. Gd

Abstract

Optical absorption spectra of ferromagnetic h.c.p. Gd have been calculated from the self-consistent spin-polarized band structure with 4f bands. The observed structures in the calculated optical conductivity spectra were identified in terms of specific interband transitions and also compared with experimental results. The calculated spectra exhibit structures at about 0.7 eV due to the transitions between occupied d and unoccupied f states, d → f, in the minority-spin bands. At higher energies, the calculated spectra show structures due to d → p transitions below 2 eV and sd → p transitions above 2 eV in both the minority and majority-spin bands. The overall agreement between the calculated and experimental spectra is good.