Polarized absorption and wavelength modulation spectra of a complete s
eries of GaSxSe1-x single crystals near the excitonic bands have been
studied in the temperature range 80-300 K. The large dichroism of abso
rption was observed, which depends on the composition of the crystals
and the wavelength of the radiation. A qualitative explanation is give
n for the observed optical absorption critical points of the layered c
rystals.