Observation of —100% Spin-Polarized Photoelectrons from a Transversely Magnetized Ni(110) Single Crystal

Abstract

We have measured for the first time the electron spin polarization $P$ of photoelectrons emitted from a transversely magnetized sample in the absence of an externally applied magnetic field. With this photoemission geometry, use has been made of optical selection rules for selectively exciting spin-polarized electron states of different symmetry as illustrated for emission from the ${\Sigma }_3$ and ${\Sigma }_4$ bands of Ni(110), where values of $P$ up to —100% have been observed.