Polarization dependence in resonant soft X-ray emission spectroscopy of 3d transition metal compounds

We report experimental studies of polarization dependence in resonant soft X-ray emission of 3d transition metal compounds. In metal 2p resonant soft X-ray emission spectra of 3d(0) systems, transition to the bonding and antibonding states between 3d(0) and 3d(1)(L) under bar configurations shows polarization dependence. In TiO2, the polarization dependence is drastic, whereas it is slightly weak in ScF3 and extremely weak in KMnO4. The results are explained by a local symmetry selection rule, strength of hybridization, and phase relation of wave-functions among initial, intermediate, and final states. In oxygen 1s resonant excitation of undoped cuprate, Sr2CuO2Cl2, we demonstrate that Zhang-Rice singlet excitation, dd excitation, as well as two spin-flip excitations can be distinguished according to their symmetry. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.