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J. Phys: Condens. Matter 16 6841-6849 (2004).

Spin-orbit splitting of image states

J R McLaughlan, E M Llewellyn-Samuel and S Crampin

Department of Physics, University of Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom

Abstract
We quantify the effect of the spin-orbit interaction on the Rydberg-like series of image state electrons at the (111) and (001) surface of Ir, Pt and Au. Using relativistic multiple-scattering methods we find Rashba-like dispersions with ΔE^SO(K)=γK with values of γ for n=1 states in the range 38-88 meV Å. Extending the phase-accumulation model to include spin-orbit scattering we find that the splittings vary like 1/(n+a)³ where a is the quantum defect and that they are related to the probability of spin-flip scattering at the surface. The splittings should be observable experimentally being larger in magnitude than some exchange-splittings that have been resolved by inverse photoemission, and are comparable to linewidths from inelastic lifetimes.