Abstract
A new phenomenon has been observed in solid-state photoemission with circularly polarized light. Its outward appearance is similar to the circular dichroism in photoabsorption. For special observation geometries, large photoelectron intensity asymmetries arise upon reversal of the photon helicity. The effect is not based on spin-orbit interaction, as is demonstrated by the example of photoemission from graphite (Z = 6). Similar asymmetries are expected for all single-crystal solids thus opening up a new class of experiments providing new tests for photoemission theories. Detailed information on the dynamics of photoexcitation of a solid can be gained, as discussed in terms of a simple orbital model.