The effects of microcrystal size and shape on the one phonon Raman spectra of crystalline semiconductors

Abstract Small physical dimensions of the scattering crystals lead to a downshift and broadening of the first order Raman line through a relaxation of the q = 0 selection rule. We consider the effect of the exact shape of the microcrystal and show that there are significant differences between spherical, columnar and thin slab microcrystals. The relationship between the width, shift and asymmetry of the Raman line is calculated and is in good agreement with available experimental data.