Magneto-optical anisotropy in the absorption coefficient of narrow-gap quantum wells

We studied magneto-optical properties in CdTe-CdxHg(1 - x)Te quantum wells as a function of a magnetic field, B-0, for x close to the semimetal phase (E-g = 0 at x(c) = 0.175). In these structures the large nonparabolicity, t he strong interband mixing and the small effective masses provide a variety of novel optical and electronic properties. We discuss features related to band admixture in different configurations. In principle, the number of al lowed transitions, the effects of spin-flip transitions, the odd dependence of oscillator strengths on B-0 and the anisotropic behavior of the absorpt ion for different polarization are complementary tools. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.