The Rashba-effect at metallic surfaces

Surface states, that show a k-dependent splitting resulting from spin-orbit coupling, show wide similarities to a two-dimensional electron gas in semiconductor heterostructures, where the Rashba-effect lifts the spin-degeneracy of the bands and allows spin-manipulation by an electric field. We discuss the conditions for such a Rashba-effect at metallic surfaces by comparing ab initio calculations for Au(111), Ag(111), and Lu(0001) and investigate the influence of electric and magnetic (exchange) fields on these surface states. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.