title: Studies of spin-orbit scattering in noble-metal nanoparticles using energy-level tunneling spectroscopy.
abstract: The effects of spin-orbit scattering on discrete electronic energy levels are studied in copper, silver, and gold nanoparticles. Level-to-level fluctuations of the effective g-factor for Zeeman splitting are characterized, and the statistics are found to be well described by random matrix theory predictions. The strength of spin-orbit scattering increases with atomic number and also varies between nanoparticles made of the same metal. We compare the spin-orbit scattering rates in the nanoparticles to weak-localization measurements on larger samples.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Petta
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ralph