Spin-Polarized Metastable-Atom Deexcitation Spectroscopy: A New Probe of Surface Magnetism

Abstract

It is demonstrated that spin dependences in the secondary-electron yields obtained when electron-spin-polarized $\mathrm{He}(2^{3}S)$ atoms are deexcited at a magnetized surface provide a means by which to probe surface magnetism. This technique, which is particularly surface specific, has been used to investigate the dependence of Ni(110) surface magnetism on temperature and the presence of controlled adsorbates.