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Three-Dimensional Spin Rotations at the Fermi Surface of a Strongly Spin-Orbit Coupled Surface System

P. Höpfner, J. Schäfer, A. Fleszar, J. H. Dil, B. Slomski, F. Meier, C. Loho, C. Blumenstein, L. Patthey, W. Hanke, and R. Claessen
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 186801 – Published 30 April 2012
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Abstract

The spin texture of the metallic two-dimensional electron system (3×3)Au/Ge(111) is revealed by fully three-dimensional spin-resolved photoemission, as well as by density functional calculations. The large hexagonal Fermi surface, generated by the Au atoms, shows a significant splitting due to spin-orbit interactions. The planar components of the spin exhibit a helical character, accompanied by a strong out-of-plane spin component with alternating signs along the six Fermi surface sections. Moreover, in-plane spin rotations toward a radial direction are observed close to the hexagon corners. Such a threefold-symmetric spin pattern is not described by the conventional Rashba model. Instead, it reveals an interplay with Dresselhaus-like spin-orbit effects as a result of the crystalline anisotropies.

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  • Received 11 November 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.186801

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

P. Höpfner1, J. Schäfer1, A. Fleszar2, J. H. Dil3,4, B. Slomski3,4, F. Meier3,4, C. Loho1, C. Blumenstein1, L. Patthey3, W. Hanke2, and R. Claessen1

  • 1Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
  • 2Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
  • 3Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
  • 4Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland

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Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 18 — 4 May 2012

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