Excitation of plasmons in Ag/Fe/W structure by spin-polarized electrons

Abstract

Using Spin-polarized Electron-Energy Loss Spectroscopy (SPEELS), the plasmon excitations were probed in a few atomic layers thick Ag film deposited on an Fe layer or on a single crystal of W(110). The measurements were performed at two specular geometries with either a 25 or 72 angle of incidence. On a clean Fe layer (10 atomic layers thick), Stoner excitation asymmetry was observed, as expected. Deposition of a silver film on top of the Fe layer dramatically changed the asymmetry of the SPEELS spectra. The spin-effect depends on the kinematics of the scattering: angles of incidence and detection. The spin-dependence of the plasmon excitations in the silver film on the W(110) surface and on the ferromagnetic Fe film is suggested to arise from the spinactive Ag/W or Ag/Fe interfaces. V

Bulk-Sensitive Spin-Resolved Resonant Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (SR-rEELS): Observation of Element- and Spin-Selective Bulk Plasmons

“…After smoothing the spin asymmetry spectra, some peaks at E L ∼1.4, 2.0, 3.1, and 4.3 eV are visible. This result is almost consistent with that of a previous SR-EELS spectrum for 20 ML bcc-Fe/Ag(100) [43] and Fe/W(110) [44]. Therefore, our SR-EELS can provide plausible information on the spin-polarization of materials.…”