Optical Properties of Mn₃Z (Z = Al, Ga, Si, Sn) Heusler Alloys

The paper presents the findings of an experimental investigation into the optical properties of Mn₃Z (Z = Al, Ga, Si, Sn) Heusler alloys. The behavior of the optical characteristics of the alloy in the IR region of the spectrum, anomalous for metallic systems, was revealed, specifically, the absence of contribution from intraband absorption and the presence of intense interband absorption. The structure of the optical conductivity spectra is explained qualitatively on the basis of the available first-principles calculations of the band structure.