Thermoreflectance investigation of the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases of Cr

Thermoreflectance measurements have been performed on Cr single crystals at several temperatures above and below the N\'eel temperature. We observe dramatic changes induced by the magnetic phase transition. In contrast, static optical data fail to show appreciable differences in the (0.5-5.0)-eV photon-energy range. Magnetic ordering gives rise to the disappearance of transitions involving specific regions of the Fermi surface. New critical-point absorptions appear at the boundaries of the new Brillouin zone in antiferromagnetic Cr. Most of the observed experimental features have been identified by comparison with recent band-structure calculations.