Multi-channel exchange-scattering spin polarimetry

Abstract

Electron spin takes critical role in almost all novel phenomena discovered in modern condensed matter physics (High-temperature superconductivity, Kondo effect, Giant Magnetoresistance, topological insulator, quantum anomalous Hall effect, etc.). However, the measurements for electron spin is of poor quality which blocks the development of material sciences because of the low efficiency of spin polarimeter. Here we show an imaging type exchange-scattering spin polarimeter with 5 orders more efficiency compared with a classical Mott polarimeter. As a demonstration, the fine spin structure of electronic states in bismuth (111) is investigated, showing the strong Rashba type spin splitting behavior in both bulk and surface states. This improvement pave the way to study novel spin related phenomena with unprecedented accuracy.