Direct evidence of spin-split one-dimensional metallic surface state on Si(557)-Au

We report unprecedented evidence of a spin split one-dimensional metallic surface state for the system of Si(557)-Au obtained by means of high-resolution spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy combined with first principles calculations. The surface state shows double parabolic energy dispersions along the Au chain structure together with a reversal of the spin polarization with respect to the time-reversal symmetry point as is characteristic from the Rashba effect. Moreover, we have observed a considerably large out-of-plane spin polarization which we attribute to the highly anisotropic wave function of the gold chains.