Spin Polarization of Secondary Electrons in Transition Metals: Theory

Published

January 1, 1985

Author(s)

David R. Penn, S Apell, S Girvin

Abstract

A theory of the spin polarization of the secondary electrons in transition metals and glasses is presented. In contrast to the secondary-electron intensity distribution, the spin polarization is shown to yield useful information about the electron-electron interaction. The ratio of the lifetimes of majority- to minority-spin electrons can be determined directly from the measured values of the spin polarization P(E) by τ_{uarr}(E)/τ_{darr} (E) = [(1-p_B)/(1+p_b)][1+P(E)]/[1-P(E)], where p_B is the bulk magnetization. The theory is applied to both Fe and Ni.

Citation

Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics)

Volume

32

Issue

12

Pub Type

Journals

Citation

Penn, D. , Apell, S. and Girvin, S. (1985), Spin Polarization of Secondary Electrons in Transition Metals: Theory, Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics) (Accessed October 22, 2025)