Valence band structure of i-ZnMgEr quasicrystal : photoemission study

The results of photoemission study of icosahedral single-grain ZnMgEr quasicrystals are presented. Synchrotron radiation photoemission measurements were performed on in situ cleaved samples at 10(-10) mbar pressure and low, 140-150 K, temperature. The valence band photoemission spectra measured reveal a simple-metal type valence band of i-ZnMgEr with a distinct Fermi edge cutoff and a spectral feature at 0.7 eV below epsilon(F). Analysis of the PE spectra shows that the spectral feature observed corresponds to the van Hove singularities in the density of states, which are due to intersections of the Fermi surface with the 222100 and 311111 Bragg planes.
QC 20100525