Normal-State Infrared Anisotropy of Polycrystalline La1.85Sr0.15CuO4-y

By examining the reflectance spectra of polycrystalline La1.85Sr0.15CuO4-y and La2NiO4-y in relation to the results of ir studies on single-crystal La2NiO4-y, we have determined the normal-state (room temperature) optical anisotropy of La1.85Sr0.15CuO4-y in the frequency range 40 cm-1 to 4800 cm-1. Vibrational and electronic properties corresponding to this anisotropy are examined, and a method is presented for extracting the optical properties of the superconducting state of La1.85Sr0.15CuO4-y.