One-step approach to ARPES from strongly correlated solids: A Mott-Hubbard system

Abstract

An expression is derived for angle-resolved photocurrent from a semi-infinite correlated system. Within the sudden approximation, the photocurrent is proportional to the spectral function of a one-particle two-time retarded Green's function G of an operator that creates an electron in a special quantum state χ localized at the surface. For a system described by a many-body single-band model we present an analytical expression that relates the Green's function G with the Green's function of an infinite crystal G b,k (ω) in Wannier representation. The role of final states and of the crystal surface is analysed for a model Green's function of the infinite crystal with a three-peak spectral function typical of a Mott-Hubbard metal. The momentum dependence of both the quasiparticle pole position and the spectral weight of the incoherent band manifest themselves in the shape of the photocurrent energy distribution curve.