Boson peak in low-frequency Raman spectra of AsxS100-x glasses: nanocluster contribution

Journal article, 2010

The origin of the Boson peak was investigated using Raman spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Low frequency Raman active vibrational modes of different branchy-, ring- and cage-like AsmSn nanoclusters were calculated and compared to experimentally determined Raman spectra of AsxS100-x glasses with different compositon. A good correlation was found between the spectral features and the calculated Raman modes. The possible structural nature of the Boson peak in arsenic chalcogenides is proposed and discussed.