Observation of Rashba splitting on beta-root 3 x root 3-Sb/Si(111) reconstructed surface

The electronic structure of root 3 x root 3-Sb/Si(111) reconstructed surface is measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. By the first time, band splitting at (Gamma) over bar and (M) over bar points in the surface Brillouin zone (SBZ) of this system is observed, which could be simply interpreted in the framework of Rashba splitting. Furthermore, first principle calculation is carried out and compared with our experimental results. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.