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Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser
Published on: June 28, 2018
Robust spin polarization and spin textures on stepped Au(111) surfaces
Jorge Lobo-Checa1, Fabian Meier, Jan Hugo Dil
1Centre d'Investigaciò en Nanociència i Nanotecnologia, CIN2 (CSIC-ICN), Esfera UAB, Campus de Bellaterra, 08193-Barcelona, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|May 21, 2010
Summary
Structural defects like step lattices do not degrade spin polarization in the Shockley surface state of gold (Au(111)). Instead, enhanced spin splitting was observed on surfaces with higher step densities.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- The Shockley surface state on Au(111) exhibits spin-orbit splitting and unique spin polarization.
- Structural defects, such as step lattices on vicinal surfaces, can potentially alter electronic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of step lattices on the spin polarization of the Shockley surface state of Au(111).
- To determine if structural defects impact the spin-split surface state and its polarization.
Main Methods:
- Experimental investigation using spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.
- Analysis of data from three vicinal Au(111) surfaces with varying step densities.
Main Results:
- Spin splitting of the Shockley surface state is preserved across all studied surfaces.
- No reduction in spin polarization was observed for individual subbands, including umklapp bands.
- A substantial enhancement of spin splitting was found on the surface with the highest step density.
Conclusions:
- Step lattices do not diminish the spin polarization of the Au(111) Shockley surface state.
- Enhanced spin splitting on high-step-density surfaces suggests an effect of surface corrugation.
- The observed spin texture maintains tangential polarization vectors and helicities consistent with pristine Au(111).
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