Thermal expansion of Pb$_{1-x}$Cd$_{x}$Te crystals

The values of the lattice period and the linear coefficient of thermal expansion $(\alpha)$ of Pb$_{1-x}$Cd$_{x}$Te solid solutions are determined depending on the cadmium content and temperature using high-temperature X-ray diffractometry. Аn increase in the concentration of cadmium in Pb$_{1-x}$Cd$_{x}$Te in the range $x$ = 0.02–0.08 leads to a significant increase in the linear coefficient of thermal expansion. A change in temperature range $T$ = 293–673 K leads to decrease in the linear coefficient of thermal expansion. Besides, an increase in temperature does not affect the value $\alpha$ of the undoped PbTe in the indicated temperature range.