title: Quantum-well-induced giant spin-orbit splitting.
abstract: We report on the observation of a giant spin-orbit splitting of quantum-well states in the unoccupied electronic structure of a Bi monolayer on Cu(111). Up to now, Rashba-type splittings of this size have been reported exclusively for surface states in a partial band gap. With these quantum-well states we have experimentally identified a second class of states that show a huge spin-orbit splitting. First-principles electronic structure calculations show that the origin of the spin-orbit splitting is due to the perpendicular potential at the surface and interface of the ultrathin Bi film. This finding allows for the direct possibility to tailor spin-orbit splitting by means of thin-film nanofabrication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Research Center OPTIMAS, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany. smathias@jila.colorado.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruffing
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deicke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiesenmayer
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bihlmayer
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Chulkov
authors.forename: Yu M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Koroteev
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Echenique
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aeschlimann