First-principle calculation of refractive indices of BAlN and BGaN

Abstract

The refractive indices of BAlN and BGaN ternary alloys are being investigated using first-principle calculation. The hybrid density functional theory is applied to determine the refractive indices of different alloys. A peculiar bowing effect in the static refractive indices and crossovers of different refractive index curves are found. We speculate that the explanation to these phenomena lies in the interband transitions of electrons where each band bows at a different rate from the other. An average of these bowing effects may result in the bowing of refractive indices.