Optical properties of iron-based amorphous alloys after cryogenic treatment

Optical properties of iron-based amorphous alloys that were subjected to cryogenic treatment have been investigated by the Beattie spectroellipsometric method in a spectral range of 1-3.5 eV. The spectral dependences of the optical conductivity and the real part of the dielectric function and the energy reflection coefficient upon normal incidence of light have been obtained for these alloys. After cryogenic treatment of the samples, a drop in the intensity of absorption in the spectra of optical conductivity and a decrease in the reflection coefficient and in the real part of the dielectric function in the indicated spectral range have been found. Such a behavior of the optical properties is connected with the effect of homogenization of the structure of amorphous alloys due to the destruction of clusters of metal-nonmetal compounds under the action of thermoelastic stresses that arise in the process of cooling.