Photoemission spectroscopy in metals:: band structure-Fermi surface–spectral function

Angular resolved photoelectron spectroscopy plays a key role in the study of the electronic structure of solids. We discuss recent methodical developments in its application to metallic systems. These include a new procedure for absolute E(k) band structure determination, which allows complete control of the three-dimensional wave-vector k, as well as a method for Fermi surface mapping based on measurements of the angular photoelectron intensity distribution. Going beyond a simple one-electron picture, we examine under which conditions the photoemission signal can be interpreted in terms of the electron removal spectrum of an interacting electron system and discuss an experimental test on a suitable Fermi liquid metal, which supports this many-body interpretation.