Theory of Spin-Polarized Secondary-Electron Emission from Ferromagnets

Abstract

The spin polarization of true secondary electrons emitted from ferromagnetic transition-metal surface is expressed as a smooth "cascade" polarization plus a "fine-structure" part. Calculation of the latter for several Ni and Fe surfaces reveals pronounced structures, which agree well with hitherto unexplained experimental data and reflect the spin-dependent bulk band structure above the vacuum threshold.