Influence of spin–orbit coupling on the momentum distribution of electron pairs emitted from Au on Ir(111)

•Preparation of a pseudomorphic monolayer of Au on Ir(111).•Ab-initio calculation of an electronic surface state with Rashba-type spin-splitting.•Emission of correlated electron pairs by collisions with spin-polarized primary electrons.•Reduced symmetry of the pair momentum distributions due to spin–orbit coupling.•Influence of spin–orbit coupling on the exchange-correlation hole.