Raman phonons of α-FeTe and Fe_{1.03}Se_{0.3}Te_{0.7} single crystals

The polarized Raman scattering spectra of nonsuperconducting $\alpha$-FeTe and of the newly discovered, As-free superconductor Fe$_{1.03}$Se$_{0.3}$Te$_{0.7}$ are measured at room temperature on single crystals. The phonon modes are assigned by combining symmetry analysis with first-principles calculations. In the parent compound $\alpha$-FeTe, the A$_{1g}$ mode of the Te atom and the B$_{1g}$ mode of the Fe atom are observed clearly, while in superconducting Fe$_{1.03}$Se$_{0.3}$Te$_{0.7}$, only a softened Fe B$_{1g}$ mode can be seen. No electron-phonon coupling feature can be distinguished in the spectra of the two samples. By contrast, the spectra of the superconducting system show a slight enhancement below 300$cm^{-1}$, which may be of electronic origin.