Direct Observation of Interband Spin-Orbit Coupling in a Two-Dimensional Electron System

Hendrik Bentmann, Samir Abdelouahed, Mattia Mulazzi, Jürgen Henk, and Friedrich Reinert

Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 196801 – Published 7 May 2012

Abstract

We report the direct observation of interband spin-orbit (SO) coupling in a two-dimensional (2D) surface electron system, in addition to the anticipated Rashba spin splitting. Using angle-resolved photoemission experiments and first-principles calculations on Bi-Ag-Au heterostructures, we show that the effect strongly modifies the dispersion as well as the orbital and spin character of the 2D electronic states, thus giving rise to considerable deviations from the Rashba model. The strength of the interband SO coupling is tuned by the thickness of the thin film structures.

Received 16 January 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.196801

Authors & Affiliations

Hendrik Bentmann^1,2, Samir Abdelouahed³, Mattia Mulazzi^1,2, Jürgen Henk⁴, and Friedrich Reinert^1,2

¹Experimentelle Physik VII and Röntgen Research Center for Complex Materials (RCCM), Universität Würzburg Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
²Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Gemeinschaftslabor für Nanoanalytik, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
³Texas A&M University at Qatar, P. O. Box 23874, Doha, Qatar
⁴Institut für Physik—Theoretische Physik, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany

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Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 19 — 11 May 2012

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