Spin-orbit coupling is shown to lead to a Rashba-type spin polarization of bulk continuum states at the surface of a nonmagnetic system. A qualitative analysis for a model one-dimensional system is presented, as well as ab initio calculations for (111) surfaces of a number of fcc metals. The effect is interpreted in terms of the reflection of the relativistic Bloch waves from the surface barrier, which leads to a beating of the spin density.

The authors acknowledge partial support from the University of the Basque Country (Grant No. GIC07IT36607) and the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Grant No. FIS2010-19609-C02-00).

5 páginas, 6 figuras.-- PACS number(s): 71.70.Ej, 73.20.−r, 71.15.Ap

Peer reviewed