Nonmonotonic behavior of magnetophotoconductivity in p-CdHgTe

Magnetophotoconductivity of p-Cd_xHg_1?x Te, measured in the Hall configuration with illumination along the magnetic field (k ∥ B ⊥ E), exhibits nonmonotonic behavior with magnetic field in the temperature range in which the material has a mixed conduction. The effect manifests itself as a peak at B ≠ 0; it is caused by a significant magnetoresistance associated with equilibrium charge carriers. The peak appears if the conductivity of equilibrium electrons is greater than or equal to half the conductivity of equilibrium heavy holes; in Cd _x Hg_1?x Te with x = 0.22, this condition is satisfied at temperatures of 140–150 K.