Electronic states inside the gap of quasi-one-dimensional conductor NbS_3(I)

The photoconductivity spectra of NbS_3 (phase I) crystals are studied. A drop of photoconductivity corresponding to the Peierls gap edge is observed. Reproducible spectral features are found at energies smaller the energy gap value. The first one is a peak at the energy 0.6 eV that is close to the midgap one. It has a threshold-like dependence of the amplitude on the electrical field applied. Another feature is a peak at the energy 0.9 eV near to the edge of the gap. We ascribe the origin of this peak to the stacking faults. The third one are continuous states between these peaks at energies 0.6-0.8 eV. We observed bleaching of the photoconductivity even below zero at this energies in the high electric field (700 V/cm) and under additional illumination applied.