Photoemission spectroscopy study of si-ZnMgHo quasicrystals

Abstract The results of photoemission spectroscopy of the simple-icosahedral single-grain ZnMgHo quasicrystals are presented. Synchrotron radiation photoemission measurements were performed on in situ cleaved samples at 10 −10 mbar pressure and low, 160 K, temperature. The valence band photoemission spectra measured reveal a simple metal type valence band with a distinct Fermi edge and a sharp pseudogap feature, which originates from the van Hove singularities in the density of states. The photoemission spectra of the Mg 2p core level show the coordination shifts of Mg 2p spin–orbit doublet due to inequivalent Mg sites in the quasicrystalline lattice.