HgTe/HgxCd1-xTe quantum wells with the inverted band structure have been probed using far-infrared magnetospectroscopy. Realistic calculations of Landau level diagrams have been performed to identify the observed transitions.
Investigations have been greatly focused on the magnetic field dependence of the peculiar pair of "zero-mode" Landau levels, which characteristically split from the upper conduction and bottom valence bands, and merge under the applied magnetic field. The observed avoided crossing of these levels is tentatively attributed to the bulk inversion asymmetry of zinc-blende compounds.