The optical absorption of GaAsN films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs substrates is measured using the mirage effect photothermal deflection spectroscopy (PDS). The PDS spectra were fitted with a modified Fernelius model, which takes into account multiple reflections within the GaAsN layer and GaAs substrate. This allowed the extraction of bandedge parameters for a series of GaAsN films with N content varying from 0.24% to 1.4% N. All films show a clear Urbach absorption edge with a composition-dependent bandgap consistent with literature and Urbach slope parameters roughly 3 times larger than GaAs values. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V . All rights reserved.