On the Role of Spin-Orbit Coupling and Crystal Symmetry on the Spin-Polarization of Photoelectrons in Nonmagnetic Crystals

Abstract

The light-induced electron-spin polarization (ESP) for electrons emitted normally from (111)-faces of Cu, Ag and Au is calculated within a spin-dependent three-step-model. Both the energetic positions and the strengths of the spectral features in the ESP may be interpreted as a function of the increasing spin-orbit coupling on the basis of the corresponding bandstructure along Λ. The general applicability of group-theoretical selection rules to the ESP is demonstrated and general symmetry considerations for the occurrence of a nonzero ESP in crystals are given.