Pseudogap in Quasicrystals Studied with Photoemission Spectroscopy

Abstract

The results of the low-temperature, high energy resolution photoemission studies of a single-grain icosahedral alloy Al₇₀Pd_21.5Mn_8.5 have been presented. The existence of the theoretically predicted pseudogap has been confirmed. No evidence of the theoretically predicted spikiness of the density of states could be observed. A review of published experimental data on the electronic structure of quasicrystals has also been presented. The photoemission experimental results confirm the existence of a pseudogap in the density of states in icosahedral quasicrystals, but its existence in the decagonal quasicrystals remains still an open question. The predicted DOS spikiness could not be observed in any of the studied quasicrystals.