Dresden 2009 – scientific programme

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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 48: Focused Session: Spin-Orbit Interaction at Surfafces: From the Rashba Effect to Topological States of Matter I

O 48.3: Topical Talk

Thursday, March 26, 2009, 11:30–12:00, HSZ 02

Exploring the Rashba spin-orbit splitting by ab initio theory — •Gustav Bihlmayer — Institut für Festkörperforschung & Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich

Since the discovery of a Rashba-type spin-orbit splitting of the surface state of Au(111), many new manifestations of this effect have been discovered, e.g. on surfaces of magnetic or semimetallic elements, in surface alloys and even in quantum-well states of thin metallic films. These systems offer the possibility to study phenomena beyond the usual Rashba-type effect, leading to splittings that are no longer linear in the momentum and show complex spin-orientation patterns in surface states [1]. We also observe unconventional Fermi surface topologies [2], and will discuss new ways to tune the effect to meet specific requirements [3]. Employing first-principles calculations, the origin of these intriguing phenomena will be analyzed. In particular, I will focus on the appearance of a spin-splitting in thin Bi [4] and Pb films, which offers a view on the shape of the wavefunction of the surface- and quantum-well states in these films.

[1] G. Bihlmayer, E. V. Chulkov, and S. Blügel, Phys. Rev. B 75, 195414 (2007)

[2] O. Krupin, G. Bihlmayer, K. Starke, S. Gorovikov et al., Phys. Rev. B 71, 201403 (R) (2005)

[3] Yu. M. Koroteev, G. Bihlmayer, E. V. Chulkov, and S. Blügel, Phys. Rev. B 77, 045428 (2008)

[4] T. Hirahara, T. Nagao, I. Matsuda, G. Bihlmayer et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 146803 (2006)