# Selective probing of hidden spin-polarized states in inversion-symmetric bulk MoS2

## TL;DR

This study demonstrates that circularly polarized light can selectively probe hidden spin-polarized states in inversion-symmetric bulk MoS2, revealing controllable spin polarization despite the material's centrosymmetry.

## Contribution

It introduces a method to selectively address and probe hidden spin-polarized states in inversion-symmetric materials using circularly polarized light.

## Key findings

- Large spin polarization observed in bulk MoS2
- Spin polarization can be reversed by changing light handedness
- Selective probing of valley and layer-locked spin states achieved

## Abstract

Spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy is used to reveal that a large spin polarization is observable in the bulk centrosymmetric transition metal dichalcogenide MoS2. It is found that the measured spin polarization can be reversed by changing the handedness of incident circularly-polarized light. Calculations based on a three-step model of photoemission show that the valley and layer-locked spin-polarized electronic states can be selectively addressed by circularly-polarized light, therefore providing a novel route to probe these hidden spin-polarized states in inversion-symmetric systems as predicted by Zhang et al. [Nature Physics 10, 387 (2014)].