PHOTOEMISSION-STUDY OF THE ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURE OF MN IN AG

The electronic structure of the (001) surfaces of Ag and two Ag-Mn alloys (5 and 10 at.% Mn) was studied using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy with unpolarised HeI, NeI and ArI radiations. Compared to pure Ag, the alloy spectra are found to be broadened and the main features slightly (0.1 eV) shifted to higher binding energy as a result of adding Mn into Ag. In addition, there is an increase in intensity between Fermi level and top of the Ag 4 d-band and significant changes in the d-band region. However, a well-defined Mn spin-up feature clearly separated from the top of Ag 4 d-band is not seen in the alloy photoemission spectra. It is suggested that this is due to the strong hybridisation between the Mn d-states and Ag d- and sp-states. Our results do not support the virtual bound state model for Mn in Ag for concentration range≧5 at.% Mn. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.