Defect absorption and optical transitions in hydrogenated amorphous silicon

Using an empirical model for the density of states functions associated with hydrogenated amorphous silicon, with defect states taken into account, we examine how the distributions of such states shape the optical response of this material. The contributions to this response attributable to the various types of optical transitions are also determined. Finally, we demonstrate that we are able to capture the spectral dependence of the optical absorption coefficient associated with a defect absorption influenced sample of hydrogenated amorphous silicon using our empirical formalism for the density of states functions associated with this material.