# Linear dichroism in angle-resolved core-level photoemission spectra reflecting 4f ground-state symmetry of strongly correlated cubic Pr compounds

## TL;DR

This study demonstrates how linear dichroism in angle-resolved core-level photoemission spectra reveals the ground-state symmetry of 4f electrons in cubic Pr compounds, distinguishing between different crystalline-electric-field states.

## Contribution

The paper provides experimental evidence and theoretical analysis linking linear dichroism to 4f ground-state symmetry in PrIr2Zn20 and PrB6, using spectral simulations and polarization-dependent measurements.

## Key findings

- Linear dichroism differs between PrIr2Zn20 and PrB6 due to 4f charge distribution differences.
- Spectral simulations confirm Gamma_3 ground state for PrIr2Zn20.
- Spectral analysis indicates Gamma_5 ground state for PrB6.

## Abstract

We report experimentally observed linear dichroism in angle-resolved core-level photoemission spectra of PrIr2Zn20 and PrB6 in cubic symmetry. The different anisotropic 4f charge distributions between the compounds due to the crystalline-electric-field splitting are responsible for the difference in the linear dichroism, which has been verified by spectral simulations with the full multiplet theory for a single-site Pr3+ ion in cubic symmetry. The observed linear dichroism and polarization-dependent spectra in two different photoelectron directions for PrIr2Zn20 are reproduced by theoretical analysis for the Gamma_3 ground state, whereas those of the Pr 3d and 4d core levels indicate the Gamma_5 ground state for PrB6.