Empirical pseudopotential band-structure calculation for Zn1−<i>x</i>Cd<i>x</i>S<i>y</i>Se1−<i>y</i> quaternary alloy

Abstract

The band structure of the Zn1−xCdxSySe1−y quaternary alloy is calculated using the empirical pseudopotential method and the virtual crystal approximation. The alloy is found to be a direct-gap semiconductor for all x and y composition. Polynomial approximation is obtained for the energy gap as a function of the composition x and y. Electron and hole effective masses are also calculated along various symmetry axes for different compositions and the results agree fairly well with available experimental values.