Angle resolved Photoemission from Ag and Au single crystals: Final state lifetimes in the attosecond range

We present angle resolved photoemission spectra for Ag(111) and Au(111) single crystals in normal emission geometry, taken at closely spaced intervals for photon energies between 8 eV and 160 eV. The most dominant transitions observed are attributed to f-derived final states located about 16-17 eV above EF for both materials. These transitions exhibit very distinct resonance phenomena and selection rules and are reminiscent of the angular momentum characteristics of the states involved. The excited electron lifetime is in the attosecond (as) range as determined from the energy width of the observed transitions. This serves as an alternate approach to the direct determination of excited electron lifetimes by as laser spectroscopy.