Electronic band redistribution probed by oxygen absorption spectra of (SrMnO3)(n)( LaMnO3)(2n) superlattices

Oxygen 1s -> 2p (K-edge) x-ray absorption spectra mimic the density of metalliclike states of transition metal oxides, thus shedding light on the electronic band structure near Fermi energies of these compounds. We take here advantage of x-ray linear dichroism measurements at the O K edge of different (SrMnO3)(n)(LaMnO3)(2n) superlattices, of SrMnO3 and of LaMnO3 thin films. X-ray linear dichroism, in the pre-edge region of the spectra, provides evidence about the specific symmetry of the Mn 3d orbitals hybridized with the oxygen ions, thus allowing us to disentangle the pure interface contribution from those related to strain effect and charge leakage among the superlattices' constituent blocks.