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Light-induced spin-polarized desorption of Rb atoms from Co surfaces

Kanta Asakawa1,2,*, Naoki Tanabe2, Oki Watanabe3, Shuji Kamada3, Keisuke Hara3, Kaori Niki3, and Atsushi Hatakeyama2

  • *Contact author: asakawa-kanta-hn@ynu.ac.jp
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Phys. Rev. B 114, L111412 – Published 24 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/56hb-jcdl

Abstract

We investigated the spin polarization of Rb atoms undergoing light-induced desorption from a spin-polarized Co (110) surface. Desorption of Rb atoms was induced via pulsed UV irradiation of the Rb-adsorbed Co surface. The number of desorbed atoms, their velocity distribution, and their spin polarization were measured via the absorption of circularly polarized light resonant with the desorbed Rb atoms. The results were analyzed in conjunction with density functional theory calculations, indicating that the desorbed Rb atoms were spin polarized. This was explained by a nonthermal desorption mechanism accompanying spin-polarized electron transfer between the Co surface and adsorbed Rb.

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Phys. Rev. B 114, L111412– Published 24 August, 2026
  • Received 13 January 2026
  • Accepted 31 July 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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