Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026

Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser
Published on: June 28, 2018
Spin polarization of photoelectrons from topological insulators
Cheol-Hwan Park1, Steven G Louie
1Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Abstract:
We show that the degree of spin polarization of photoelectrons from the surface states of topological insulators is 100% if fully polarized light is used as in typical photoemission measurements, and, hence, can be significantly higher than that of the initial state. Further, the spin orientation of these photoelectrons in general can also be very different from that of the initial surface state and is controlled by the photon polarization. A rich set of predicted phenomena have recently been confirmed by spin- and angle-resolved photoemission experiments.
Related Concept Videos
The Pauli Exclusion Principle
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview
Induced Electric Dipoles
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...
Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

