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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser
Published on: June 28, 2018
Local spin polarization at surfaces probed by hollow atoms
M Unipan1, A Robin, R Morgenstern
1KVI Atomic Physics, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The relaxation of hollow atoms produced by slow multiply charged ions impinging on surfaces produces characteristic Auger electron spectra. These spectra, which serve as fingerprints of the interaction, can be used to probe local spin ordering at surfaces by relating changes in the intensities of different spin states to local spin polarization at the surface. The area from which the electrons are captured is of the order of a few Angstrom(2), only. The potential of the method is illustrated by He(2+) and N(6+) ions interacting with a ferromagnetic Ni(110) crystal. From the Auger spectra we determine a spin polarization of approximately 90% at room temperature.
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