The correlation between atomic microstructure and physical properties
of high- T-c superconducting compounds (HTSC) has been studied. Spectr
oscopic ellipsometry, reflection anisotropy spectroscopy at 45 degrees
and Raman scattering have been used to investigate the optical manife
station of structural features of layered-type cuprates. The results o
f optical measurements have been interpreted taking into account the s
tructural and chemical composition data obtained by X-ray diffraction
and electron probe microanalysis.