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Abstract:
We study the manipulation of the spin polarization of photoemitted
electrons in Bi2Se3 by spin- and angle-resolved photoemission
spectroscopy. General rules are established that enable controlling the
photoelectron spin-polarization. We demonstrate the +/- 100% reversal of
a single component of the measured spin-polarization vector upon the
rotation of light polarization, as well as full three-dimensional
manipulation by varying experimental configuration and photon energy.
While a material-specific density-functional theory analysis is needed
for the quantitative description, a minimal yet fully generalized
two-atomic-layer model qualitatively accounts for the spin response
based on the interplay of optical selection rules, photoelectron
interference, and topological surface-state complex structure. It
follows that photoelectron spin-polarization control is generically
achievable in systems with a layer-dependent, entangled spin-orbital
texture.
