CoL EMISSION SPECTRA OF LaCoO3 AT LOW TEMPERATURE

Co 3d --> 2p X-ray emission spectra of LaCoO3 in the Co 2p photoabsorption region are measured at 40 and 300 K. The spectra mainly reveal features nearly independent of excitation photon energy. This indicates the highly covalent or strongly hybridized nature of the Co 3d state. The emission component showing resonant behavior is also observed. The temperature dependence of the resonant emission confirms that the wave function of Co 3d electrons is totally symmetric in the low-spin ground state and that for the spin state excited thermally through the magnetic transition around 100 K is not.