The diluted magnetic semiconductors Hg(1-x)Cr(x)Se (0.03≤x≤0.1) were prepared by the solid state recrystallization method. The structure microanalysis of the Hg(1-x)Cr(x)Se compounds, performed by using a scanning electron spectrometer, has shown that the HgCr(2)Se(4) spinel-like inclusions are present in the host matrix Hg(1-x)Cr(x)Se and their amount increases when the chromium content grows. ESR studies of Hg(1-x)Cr(x)Se samples were carried out in the temperature range 4.2-300 K. ESR spectra of the samples with different chromium contents demonstrate the same g-factors at room temperature and similar fine structure development with the temperature decrease. Numerical studies of g-factors, performed by the modified crystal field approach (MCFA), allowed us to reveal that Cr(2+)/Cr(3+) ions in the tetrahedral environment of the solid solution Hg(1-x)Cr(x)Se cannot lead to the ESR signal. The experimental g-factor is well reproduced by a numerical g-factor for Cr(3+) ions located in the octahedral environment, being specific for the HgCr(2)Se(4) spinel phase. The onset of the ESR fine structure is determined by the trigonal distortions of the (CrSe(6))(9-) octahedral cell. From our study it has been found that the spinel clusters are present in the Hg(1-x)Cr(x)Se solid solution even at low chromium content.

An anomalous nonmonotonic contribution to the temperature dependence of the electron heat capacity of mercury selenide is detected. This is explained in terms of hybridized electronic states on donor impurities. The observed effect is described by a theory of electron heat capacity based on a quantum Fermi-liquid approach including localization and electron-electron interactions. A quantitative interpretation of the experimental dependences yields values for the parameters of the hybridized states that are consistent with those known from other experiments. A new parameter characterizing the electron-electron interaction in the hybridized states is also found.

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The temperature dependence of the speed of sound in crystalline mercury selenide with low concentrations of iron impurities is studied. Experiments are conducted in the ranges of concentration and temperature where hybridized electronic states in iron impurities have been observed previously. It is found that at temperatures below 10 K the speed of slow transverse ultrasonic waves has an anomalous nonmonotonic segment of its temperature variation that is related to the influence of the impurities and reflects the existence of hybridized states. The observed anomalies in the sound speed are described in terms of a theory for the electron contribution to the elastic moduli that includes hybridization of impurity states and electron-electron interactions. Fits of the theoretical dependences to the experimental data yield quantitative information on the parameters of the hybridized states and of the Fermi-liquid interaction.