Photoemission study of an Al-Cu-Fe icosahedral phase

Abstract

Photoemission spectra of the Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal with the icosahedral phase were studied at room temperature. The line shape of the overall observed spectrum is like a large peak on a plateau cut-off at E_F. The large peak observed at about 4 eV below E_F seems to originate mainly from the 3d state of Cu atoms. The bump was observed at about 1 eV below E_F. The high resolution experiment showed an anomalous valley at E_F in the electronic density of states. This means that the dip at E_F in the DOS has a half-width 0.3-0.4 eV and that its depth is 70% of the value for a no-dip case.