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arXiv · 1006.3566

A band structure scenario for the giant spin-orbit splitting observed at the Bi/Si(111) interface

Emmanouil Frantzeskakis·Stephane Pons·Marco Grioni
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Abstract

The Bi/Si(111) (sqrt{3} x sqrt{3})R30 trimer phase offers a prime example of a giant spin-orbit splitting of the electronic states at the interface with a semiconducting substrate. We have performed a detailed angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) study to clarify the complex topology of the hybrid interface bands. The analysis of the ARPES data, guided by a model tight-binding calculation, reveals a previously unexplored mechanism at the origin of the giant spin-orbit splitting, which relies primarily on the underlying band structure. We anticipate that other similar interfaces characterized by trimer structures could also exhibit a large effect.

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Emmanouil Frantzeskakis, Stephane Pons, Marco Grioni. 2010-07-28. A band structure scenario for the giant spin-orbit splitting observed at the Bi/Si(111) interface. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.82.085440

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