Nonlinear pressure dependence of the direct band gap in adamantine ordered-vacancy compounds

A strong nonlinear pressure dependence of the optical absorption edge has been measured in defect chalcopyrites CdGa{sub 2}Se{sub 4} and HgGa{sub 2}Se{sub 4}. The behavior is due to the nonlinear pressure dependence of the direct band-gap energy in these compounds as confirmed by ab initio calculations. Our calculations for CdGa{sub 2}Se{sub 4}, HgGa{sub 2}Se{sub 4} and monoclinic {beta}-Ga{sub 2}Se{sub 3} provide evidence that the nonlinear pressure dependence of the direct band-gap energy is a general feature of adamantine ordered-vacancy compounds irrespective of their composition and crystalline structure. The nonlinear behavior is due to a conduction band anticrossing at the {Gamma} po…