In this contribution we will present results of a recent study of the influence of spin-orbit interaction (SOI) on the electronic properties of a prototypical ferromagnet, Fe(001). Using high resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy we demonstrated openings of the SOI - induced electronic band gaps, spin-orbit gaps (SOG), near the Fermi level. The SOG and thus the Fermi surface could be manipulated by changing the remanent magnetization direction. The experimental results were compared with the first-principles calculations and one-step photoemission calculations. Switchable SOG are the basis of many fundamental and technologically relevant phenomena, such as magnetocrystalline anisotropy, anisotropic magnetoresistance, intrinsic anomalous Hall effect or spin relaxation. We envision that a methodology similar to the one introduced here could be used to judge the potential of new materials for spintronic applications.
*This work was supported by the Helmholtz Association's Initiative and Networking Fund
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Authors
Ewa Mlynczak
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Markus Eschbach
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Stephan Borek
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Muenchen
Jan Minar
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Muenchen
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen and University of West Bohemia, Pilsen
Juergen Braun
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Muenchen
Irene Aguilera
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Peter Gruenberg Institute and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Juelich and JARA, 52425 Juelich, Germany
Gustav Bihlmayer
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Peter Gr\"unberg Institut (PGI-1) and Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-1), Forschungszentrum J\"ulich and JARA
Sven Doering
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Mathias Gehlmann
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Pika Gospodaric
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Shigemasa Suga
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Lukasz Plucinski
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Peter Gruenberg Institute, FZ Juelich, Germany
Stefan Bl\"ugel
Forschungszentrum J\"{u}lich, Germany
Forschungszentrum Juelich
Peter Gr\"unberg Institut (PGI-1) and Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-1), Forschungszentrum J\"ulich and JARA, D-52425 J\"ulich, Germany
Peter Gruenberg Institute and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Juelich and JARA, 52425 Juelich, Germany
Peter Gr\"unberg Institut (PGI-1) and Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-1), Forschungszentrum J\"ulich and JARA
Peter Gr\"unberg Institut and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum J\"ulich and JARA, 52425 J\"ulich, Germany
Hubert Ebert
Department Chemie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Munchen, Germany
