Elastic Constants of β-HgS

The elastic constants of single crystals of β-HgS highly doped with iron were directly determined at room temperature from the measurements of ultrasonic wave velocities by the pulse-echo technique. The values of c$\text{}_{11}$=6.750, c$\text{}_{12}$=5.186, and c$\text{}_{44}$=2.42 (given at 10$\text{}^{10}$ N m$\text{}^{-2}$ units) were obtained and compared with the experimental data taken for other mercury chalcogenides. The elastic characteristics of this group of materials is quite similar to those of Cd and Zn chalcogenides.