Theoretical study of electron-spin polarization in photoemission from Au surfaces

Abstract

Abstract We have calculated the spin polarization of photoelectrons emitted by circularly polarized light from Au surfaces. Results for the electron-spin polarization (ESP) of the photoyield are presented for clean and contaminated surfaces for photon energies up to 10 eV. In addition spectra for energy resolved photoelectrons for the (111) and (110) surface are presented. To calculate the electron wavefunctions and matrix elements required for a determination of the ESP for gold, we used a relativistic version of a fcc interpolation scheme. Our calculations demonstrate that the ESP reflects the hybridization properties of the electron bands in particular in the vicinity of band crossings which have been lifted by spin-orbit interaction. The effect of an acceptance cone is discussed. A satisfying agreement is found with experimental work for the energetic positions of the extrema of the ESP.