Theory of spin-polarized metastable-atom-deexcitation spectroscopy: Ni-He

Journal Article · Thu Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.41.3303· OSTI ID:6847309

Penn, D R ^[1]; Apell, P ^[2]

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1. Radiation Physics Division, National Institute of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 (USA) National Institute of Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 (USA)
2. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Umea, S-90187 Umea, (Sweden)

Metastable spin-polarized He{sup *} atoms incident on a Ni surface undergo deexcitation in a process which yields electrons from the Ni. The number produced is observed to depend on the relative spin of the Ni and the He{sup *} atoms. The normalized difference in the ejected-electron intensity produced by He{sup *} atoms with opposite spin polarizations increases dramatically with increasing kinetic energy of the electrons. A theory of this asymmetry is presented. It is found that the experimental results can be reproduced only by the use of a realistic potential for the Ni electrons in the vacuum region. With such a potential it is found that He{sup +} ions which result from the He{sup *}-surface interaction are neutralized at {similar to}4.5 A from the Ni surface, a much larger distance than given by previous estimates. The experiment is shown to reflect the polarization of Ni electrons at the He ion, and it is estimated that the Ni magnetization at the Fermi energy and far from the Ni surface is {congruent}{minus}20%.

• OSTI ID: 6847309
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA) Vol. 41:6; ISSN PRBMD; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

656003* -- Condensed Matter Physics-- Interactions between Beams & Condensed Matter-- (1987-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
ELECTRON EMISSION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
GASES
HELIUM
METALS
METASTABLE STATES
NICKEL
NONMETALS
ORIENTATION
RARE GASES
SPECTROSCOPY
SPIN ORIENTATION
SURFACES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS