Sublattice asymmetry and spin-orbit interaction induced out-of-plane spin polarization of photoelectrons

Rakyta, Peter and Kormanyos, Andor and Cserti, József (2011) Sublattice asymmetry and spin-orbit interaction induced out-of-plane spin polarization of photoelectrons. Physical review B, 83 (15): 155439. ISSN 1098-0121

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Abstract

We study theoretically the effect of spin-orbit coupling and sublattice asymmetry in graphene on the spin polarization of photoelectrons. We show that sublattice asymmetry in graphene not only opens a gap in the band structure, but in the case of finite spin-orbit interaction it also gives rise to an out-of-plane spin polarization of electrons close to the Dirac point of the Brillouin zone. This can be detected by measuring the spin polarization of photoelectrons, and therefore spin-resolved photoemission spectroscopy can reveal the presence of a band gap even if it is too small to be observed directly by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy because of the finite resolution of measurements or because the sample is p-doped. We present analytical and numerical calculations on the energy and linewidth dependence of photoelectron intensity distribution and spin polarization.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Physical review B
Additional Information:
©2011 American Physical Society
ID Code:
49997
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
28 Sep 2011 14:13
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Dec 2023 00:22