Spin-dependence of Ce $4f$ hybridization in magnetically ordered systems: A spin-resolved photoemission study of Ce/Fe(110)

Spin- and angle-resolved resonant (Ce $4d\to4f$) photoemission spectra of a monolayer Ce on Fe(110) reveal spin-dependent changes of the Fermi-level peak intensities. That indicate a spin-dependence of $4f$ hybridization and, thus, of $4f$ occupancy and local moment. The phenomenon is described in the framework of the periodic Anderson model by $4f$ electron hopping into the exchange split Fe 3d derived bands that form a spin-gap at the Fermi energy around the $\bar{\Gamma}$ point of the surface Brillouin zone.