The behavior of electrons on a single-crystal gold surface was investigated. (IMAGE)
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The behavior of electrons on a single-crystal gold surface was investigated. On the Au(111) surface, a difference in the magnitude of the electrons' in-plane momentum component (proportional to the in-plane velocity) is observed, which depends on their spin orientation. The two opposite assignments for the orientation of the spin were left unresolved for 20 years. Ultimately, the spin orientation and the shape of the electron's orbit were determined by measuring the two-dimensional photoelectron momentum distribution.
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Fumihiko Matsui
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