A novel electron spin-polarization detector with very large analyzing power

The low energy electron reflectivity from a magnetic surface depends on the relative orientation between the electron spin and the sample magnetization. This effect has been exploited for realizing a new electron spin polarization detector. As a scattering surface we have used a well ordered Fe(001)-p(1x1)O surface, which is stable against surface contamination and gives rise to very large spin dependent effects. We describe in detail the preparation in vacuum of such a target surface and show that it can be transferred in a separate system, without performance losses. The analyzing power S of the detector is given by the relative variation of its response when the target magnetization is reversed. We find extremely large S values for electrons reflected at 3-6 eV kinetic energy, with maximum above 45%, i.e., roughly 3 times better than other polarimeters presently used. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)02109-7].