Mobility of beam, analyzer, and sample

Choosing "Only the sample moves", the angle between the incoming beam and the analyzer is kept constant and equal to the input parameter β (then the incident angle parameters are disregarded). The polar angles of emission (θ,φ) are given with respect to the surface normal. The sample moves in such a way that the surface normal is always contained in the plane determined by the incidence and emission directions, and the polar angles of emission are θ=β and φ=0 for normal incidence. The azimuthal angle is measured with respect to the x axis.

Choosing "Only the analyzer moves", the incoming beam is fixed with respect to the sample, so that by varying the angles of emission θ and φ, only the analyzer moves. These are the polar angles of the photoelectron with respect to the surface normal. (The incidence direction is kept constant with respect to the sample, so that the parameter β is disregarded in this mode.)

Choosing "Both the sample and the analyzer move", the sample moves with the azimuthal angle of emission φ, while the analyzer moves with the polar angle of emission θ. The direction of incidence with respect to the surface normal is (θ_i,φ+π) when the direction of emission is (θ,φ). (The azimuthal angle of incidence φ_i and the angle β are disregarded in this mode.)

The following schematic representation can help to visualize this. Azimuthal/polar rotations are represented by brown/pink double arrows. The sample and the analyzer move when these arrows are sitting on the analyzer (blue arrow) and near the surface normal (black line), respectively.