The Rashba-effect at metallic surfaces

Abstract 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(1 1 1), Ag(1 1 1), and Lu(0 0 0 1) and investigate the influence of electric and magnetic (exchange) fields on these surface states.