Spin-polarized (e,2e) spectroscopy of ferromagnetic iron

The scattering of spin-polarized electrons from a ferromagnetic iron surface (1 1 0) is studied using spin-resolved two-electron coincidence spectroscopy ((e,2e) technique) in the reflection mode. The (e,2e) spectra are measured for parallel and antiparallel alignment of the sample's magnetization direction with the polarization vector of the incident electron beam. It is found that the main contribution to the asymmetry of the (e,2e) spectra is due to the exchange interaction; spin-orbit effect is negligible. The sign and the magnitude of the asymmetry are determined by the spin polarization of the sample and by the exchange-induced asymmetry in the electron-electron scattering. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.