No Arabic abstract
Spin-split Rashba bands have been exploited to efficiently control the spin degree of freedom of moving electrons, which possesses a great potential in frontier applications of designing spintronic devices and processing spin-based information. Given that intrinsic breaking of inversion symmetry and sizeable spin-orbit interaction, two-dimensional (2D) surface alloys formed by heavy metal elements exhibit a pronounced Rashba-type spin splitting of the surface states. Here, we have revealed the essential role of atomic orbital symmetry in the hexagonally warped Rashba spin-split surface state of $sqrt{3}timessqrt{3} R30^{circ}$ BiCu$_{2}$ monatomic alloy by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and density functional theory (DFT). From $mathrm{d}I/mathrm{d}U$ spectra and calculated band structures, three hole-like Rashba-split bands hybridized from distinct orbital symmetries have been identified in the unoccupied energy region. Because of the hexagonally deformed Fermi surface, quasi-particle interference (QPI) mappings have resolved scattering channels opened from interband transitions of textit{p$_{x},$p$_{y}$}($m_{j}=1/2$) band. In contrast to the textit{s,p$_{z}$}-derived band, the hexagonal warping predominately is accompanied by substantial out-of-plane spin polarization $S_{z}$ up to 24% in the dispersion of textit{p$_{x}$,p$_{y}$}($m_{j}=1/2$) band with an in-plane orbital symmetry.
The Fermi and Rashba energies of surface states in the Bi_xPb_{1-x}/Ag(111) alloy can be tuned simultaneously by changing the composition parameter x. We report on unconventional Fermi surface spin textures observed by spin and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy {that are correlated with a topological transition of the Fermi surface occurring at x=0.5. We show that the surface states remain fully spin polarized upon alloying and that the spin polarization vectors are approximately tangential to the constant energy contours. We discuss the implications of the topological transition for the transport of spin.
Surface alloys are highly flexible materials for tailoring the spin-dependent properties of surfaces. Here, we study the spin-dependent band structure of a DyAg$_2$ surface alloy formed on an Ag(111) crystal. We find a significant exchange spin-splitting of the localized Dy 4f states pointing to a ferromagnetic coupling between the localized Dy moments at $40,$K. The magnetic coupling between these moments is mediated by an indirect, RKKY-like exchange coupling via the spin-polarized electrons of the hole-like Dy-Ag hybrid surface state.
Mn 2p soft X-ray absorption (XAS) spectroscopy excited with circularly polarized synchrotron radiation has been applied to a new class of material, c(2x2)CuMn/Cu(001) two-dimensional ordered surface alloy. A significant X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) signal has been clearly observed at T=25K, indicating the existence of the ferromagnetic state under the external magnetic field of 1.4 Tesla. The lineshape analyses of the XAS and XMCD spectra clearly show that the Mn 3d state is rather localized and has a high spin magnetic moment due to its half-filled character.
We present the first resonant x-ray reflectivity measurements from a liquid surface. The surface structure of the liquid Hg-Au alloy system just beyond the solubility limit of 0.14at% Au in Hg had previously been shown to exhibit a unique surface phase characterized by a low-density surface region with a complicated temperature dependence. In this paper we present reflectivity measurements near the Au LIII edge, for 0.2at% Au in Hg at room temperature. The data are consistent with a concentration of Au in the surface region that can be no larger than about 30at%. These results rule out previous suggestions that pure Au layers segregate at the alloy surface.
A two dimensional crystalline layer is found at the surface of the liquid eutectic Au$_{82}$Si$_{18}$ alloy above its melting point $T_M=359 ^{circ}$C. Underlying this crystalline layer we find a layered structure, 6-7 atomic layers thick. This surface layer undergoes a first-order solid-solid phase transition occurring at $371 ^{circ}$C. The crystalline phase observed for T$>$371 $^{circ}$C is stable up to at least 430 $^{circ}$C. Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction data at T$>$371 $^{circ}$C imply lateral order comprising two coexisting phases of different oblique unit cells, in stark contrast with the single phase with a rectangular unit cell found for low-temperature crystalline phase $359 ^{circ}$C$<T<371 ^{circ}$C.