Effect of surface reconstruction on the photoemission cross-section of the Au(111) surface state

The photoemission cross-section of the Shockley surface state of Au(111) is studied over a wide range of photon energies both experimentally and theoretically. The measurements are fully understood based on the theoretical analysis within a one-step ab initio theory of photoemission. The constant initial state spectrum is shown to be very sensitive to the structure of the topmost atomic layer. A maximum in the constant initial spectrum at 60 eV is identified as a fingerprint of the Au(111) surface reconstruction.