Core and valence level photoemission and photoabsorption study of icosahedral Al–Pd–Mnquasicrystals

Abstract

The electronic structure of quasicrystalline Al–Pd–Mn is investigated by means of valenceand core level photoelectron spectroscopy. Variations of the photoionization cross section inthe constituents’ valence electronic levels as a function of photon energy are used toidentify contributions from the different atomic species, in particular near the Pd 4d Cooperminimum. Resonant photoemission at the Mn 2p absorption edge shows the contribution ofthe Mn 3d states to the density of states in a region near the Fermi level. Theasymmetry of Pd 3d and Mn 2p core level photoemission lines, and its differencefor emission from metallic and quasicrystalline phases, are utilized to infer thecontributions of the different constituents to the density of states at the Fermi level.