The stoichiometry-dependent optical properties of bulk samples of $\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{C}}_x$ have been determined for four samples in the range $0.64\le x\le 0.90$. Reflectance and absorptance data taken in the range 0.1-30 eV have been Kramers-Kronig analyzed to obtain the dielectric function and related functions. Interband absorption begins at 0.1 eV or less. The observed interband transitions are interpreted on the basis of existing energy-band calculations. Comparison of optical structure with joint-density-of-states calculations shows that the rigid-band model cannot be applied strictly to explain the $x$-dependent structure, especially in the 5-10 eV region. The electron-energy-loss functions exhibit two peaks, one near the free-electron plasmon energy and one near 10 eV, both peaks shifting to higher energy as $x$ increases.

• Received 30 October 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.22.3991