Spin-resolved density of states at the surface of NiMnSb

Abstract

Spin-resolved photoemission measurements from polycrystalline NiMnSb films reveal spin-resolved density of states which are in qualitative agreement with local spin density functional band structure calculations [Phys. Rev. B 51, 10 436 (1995)]. The polarization of electrons close to the Fermi level is however found to be at most 40%, in contrast to the predicted half-metallic behavior. This discrepancy is attributed to lower remnant magnetization of the surface region and/or the presence of other phases.