Abstract
Unpolarized light ejects spin polarized electrons from Pt(111) and Au(111) even if the electron emission occurs normal to the surface. For off normal incidence of 11.8 eV, 16.9 eV, and 21.2 eV radiation, and for the main peaks in the photoemission spectra, a degree of spin polarization of up to 30% or more is found for the spin polarization component P y perpendicular to the reaction plane. A crystal rotation about its surface normal does not change P y . P y is largest for transitions from bands with symmetry ∧ 36 . All these experimental findings agree with a recent theoretical prediction [1] of a new spin effect by Tamura and Feder.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
E. Tamura, R. Feder: Submitted for publication and private communications
E. Kisker: In Ref. [3], Chap. 12 and references therein
R. Feder: In Ref. [3], Chap. 4 and references therein
R. Feder (ed.): Polarized Electrons in Surface Physics (World Scientific, Singapore 1985)
U. Heinzmann: Phys. Script. T 17, 77–88 (1987) and references therein
F. Meier, D. Pescia: In Ref. [5], Chap. 7
M. Wöhlecke, G. Borstel: In Ref. [5], Chap. 10
J. Kirschner: Polarized Electrons at Surfaces (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg 1985)
F. Meier, B.P. Zakharchenya (eds.): Optical Orientation, Modern Problems in Condensed Matter Sciences, Vol. 8 (North-Holland, Amsterdam 1984)
For non-centrosymmetric surfaces a small spin-polarization can arise via a mechanism described by S.F. Alvarado, H. Riechert, N.E. Christensen: Phys. Rev. Lett. 55, 2716–2719 (1985)
E. Tamura, W. Piepke, R. Feder: Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 934–937 (1987)
B. Schmiedeskamp, B. Vogt, U. Heinzmann: Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 651–654 (1988)
For off-normal photoemission spin polarization can be due to spin-dependent diffraction or phase matching conditions in the surface transmission step: J. Kirschner, R. Feder, J.F. Wendelken: Phys. Rev. Lett. 47, 614–617 (1981)
R. Feder: In Ref. [3], Chap. 4, pp. 215, 219, 223
A. Eyers, F. Schäfers, G. Schönhense, U. Heinzmann, H.P. Oepen, K. Hünlich, J. Kirschner, G. Borstel: Phys. Rev. Lett. 52, 1559–1562 (1984)
B. Vogt, B. Schmiedeskamp, U. Heinzmann: Z. Phys. B80, 359–364 (1990)
The bandstructure is displayed in: G. Leschik, R. Courths, H. Wern, S. Hüfner, H. Eckardt, J. Noffke: Solid State Commun. 52, 221–225 (1984); the calculations were performed along the lines described in: L. Fritsche, J. Noffke, H. Eckardt: J. Phys. F 17, 943–965 (1987) The unoccupied bands are shifted by 0.75eV towards higher energies as reported by H. Wern, R. Courths, G. Leschik, S. Hüfner: Z. Phys. B 60, 293–310 (1985). The spatial parts of the individual bands were kindly supplied by J. Noffke
U. Heinzmann: In Fundamental Processes in Atomic Collision Physics, ed. by H. Kleinpoppen, J.S. Briggs, H.O. Lutz (Plenum, New York 1985) pp. 269–293
U. Heinzmann, G. Schönhense, J. Kessler: Phys. Rev. Lett. 42, 1603–1605 (1979)
G. Schönhense, V. Dzidzonou, S. Kaesdorf, U. Heinzmann: Phys. Rev. Lett. 52, 811–814 (1984)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schmiedeskamp, B., Irmer, N., David, R. et al. A new spin effect in photoemission with unpolarized light: Experimental evidence of spin polarized electrons in normal emission from Pt(111) and Au(111). Appl. Phys. A 53, 418–421 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348155
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348155