Development of a Laser-based angle-resolved-photoemission spectrometer with sub-micrometer spatial resolution and high-efficiency spin detection

TL;DR

This paper introduces a laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectrometer with sub-micrometer spatial resolution and high-efficiency spin detection, enabling detailed study of quantum materials with improved convenience and flux compared to synchrotron-based systems.

Contribution

The development of a lab-based LMS-ARPES system with sub-micron resolution, high photon flux, and integrated spin detection is a novel advancement in quantum material analysis tools.

Findings

Confirmed sub-micron spatial resolution of the system.

Demonstrated high spin-polarization in Bi2Se3 topological insulator.

System enables high-resolution, high-statistics measurements in condensed matter research.

Abstract

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with sub-micrometer spatial resolution ({\mu}-ARPES), has become a powerful tool for studying quantum materials. To achieve sub-micrometer or even nanometer-scale spatial resolution, it is important to focus the incident light beam (usually from the synchrotron radiation) using X-ray optics such as the zone plate or ellipsoidal capillary mirrors. Recently, we developed a laser-based {\mu}-ARPES with spin-resolution (LMS-ARPES). The 177 nm laser beam is achieved by frequency doubling a 355 nm beam using a KBBF crystal and subsequently focused using an optical lens with a focal length of about 16 mm. By characterizing the focused spot size using different methods and performing spatial-scanning photoemission measurement, we confirm the sub-micron spatial resolution of the system. Compared with the {\mu}-ARPES facilities based on synchrotron radiation, our LMS-ARPES system is not only more economical and convenient but also with higher photon flux (> 5E13 photons/s), thus enabling the high-resolution and high-statistics measurements. Moreover, the system is equipped with a two-dimensional spin detector based on exchange scattering at a surface-passivated iron film grown on a W(100) substrate. We investigate the spin structure of the prototype topological insulator Bi2Se3 and reveal a high spin-polarization rate, confirming its spin-momentum locking property. This lab-based LMS-ARPES will be a powerful research tool for studying the local fine electronic structures of different condensed matter systems, including topological quantum materials, mesoscopic materials and structures, and phase-separated materials.