Rashba polarization of bulk continuum states

Abstract

Spin-orbit coupling is shown to lead to a Rashba-type spin polarization of bulk continuum states at the surface of a nonmagnetic system. A qualitative analysis for a model one-dimensional system is presented, as well as ab initio calculations for (111) surfaces of a number of fcc metals. The effect is interpreted in terms of the reflection of the relativistic Bloch waves from the surface barrier, which leads to a beating of the spin density. © 2011 American Physical Society.