Spin selectivity by Auger-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy

Ugenti, Simona; Cini, Michele; Perfetto, Enrico; Da Pieve, Fabiana; Natoli, Calogero Rino; Gotter, Roberto; Offi, Francesco; Ruocco, Alessandro; Stefani, Giovanni; Tommasini, Fernando; Fratesi, Guido; Trioni, Mario Italo; Brivio, Gian Paolo Italy

The M₃M₄₅M₄₅ Auger transition from a Cu(111) surface is studied using Auger-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy (APECS). Two different geometrical configurations of the electron analyzers used in the experiment allow us to sample different emission angles of the ejected electrons leading to different weights of the singlet and triplet contributions in the studied transition. The experimental spectra are modeled within a two step approach using the Cini-Sawatzky theory for the closed band case so as to properly consider the electronic and spin dependent correlation effects and the hole-hole correlation energy. Ingredients for the theory, like density of states and hole-hole interaction, are obtained fully ab-initio in the framework of density functional theory by performing all-electron calculations. The obtained results confirm the recently discovered selectivity of APECS in final spin-state and emission depth and contribute in decisive manner to outline the role of this kind of spectroscopic technique as a tool for the study of complex systems like magnetic thin films and multilayer.

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