Quantum-well states and spin polarization in thin Ni films on Cu(0 0 1)

The unoccupied quantum-well states in thin Ni films on Cu(0 0 1) have been studied by spin- and angle-resolved inverse photoemission. Three quantum-well features are clearly resolved with exchange splittings of up to 70 meV. As a function of the wave vector parallel to the surface, the quantum-well states follow the corresponding sp band dispersion and evolve into surface resonances upon approaching the band-gap boundary.