Enhancement of the Electron Spin Polarization in the Photoyield of Ni(111) in the Vacuum Ultraviolet

Abstract
We have found that the spin polarization of the photoyield from single crystal Ni(111) at 16.8- and 21.2-eV photon energy is (8.0±3.5)% and (8.1±2)%, respectively, which is significantly larger than the bulk electron-spin polarization. The results of a theoretical model calculation are in good agreement with the experiment. We interpret this as direct evidence for spin-dependent electron-electron scattering in an itinerant strong ferromagnet.