Spin-Polarized Photoelectrons in the Vicinity of Spectral Features

We investigate the spin polarization of photoelectrons emitted from noble gases, in the vicinity of spectral features such as Fano resonances, Cooper minima, and giant resonances. Since these features all exhibit spatio-spectral coupling, they are intrinsically linked to the spin polarization through the spin-orbit coupling. In contrast to c{\ae}sium, as originally proposed by Fano (1969) https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.178.131, the rare gases do not provide large spin polarization in the vicinity of the Cooper minimum. However, the Fano resonances yield much higher spin polarization ($\ge40\%$). Furthermore, if the photoelectron is measured in coincidence with the photoion, 100\% spin polarization is possible, also close to the Cooper minimum.