The optical constants n and k of Al-40 wt% Zn alloy thin films deposit
ed at room temperature were calculated using a transmission spectrum i
n the wavelength range from 2.5 to 20 mu m. The thickness of the films
ranged from 10 to 85 nm. The investigated samples were aged at 373 K
and 473 K for 1 h and some microcharacteristics of Al-Zn alloy films s
uch as the free charge concentration N, the relaxation time tau, the s
tatic conductivity sigma, the electron velocity at Fermi surface V-f a
nd Fermi energy were determined. The effective absorption assumed the
value 63.7% and the absorption due to bound electrons is therefore 36.
3%. The role of the solute atoms (Zn) was considered to explain the re
sults. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.