Higher-order contributions to the Rashba-Bychkov effect with application to the Bi/Ag(111) surface alloy
Abstract
In order to explain the anisotropic Rashba-Bychkov effect observed in several metallic-surface-state systems, we use k·p perturbation theory with a simple group-theoretical analysis and construct effective Rashba Hamiltonians for different point groups up to third order in the wave number. We perform relativistic ab initio calculations for the (3×3)R30∘ Bi/Ag(111) surface alloy, and from the calculated splitting of the band dispersion we find evidence of the predicted third-order terms. Furthermore, we derive expressions for the corresponding third-order Rashba parameters to provide a simple explanation of the qualitative difference concerning the Rashba-Bychkov splitting of the surface states at Au(111) and Bi/Ag(111).
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- February 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.85.075404
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1110.3953
- Bibcode:
- 2012PhRvB..85g5404V
- Keywords:
-
- 71.15.Rf;
- 73.20.At;
- 75.70.Tj;
- Relativistic effects;
- Surface states band structure electron density of states;
- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
- E-Print:
- 7 pages, 3 figures