Sri Pemmaraju

Accurate X-Ray Spectral Predictions: An Advanced Self-Consistent-Field Approach Inspired by Many-Body Perturbation Theory

Constrained-occupancy delta-self-consistent-field (ΔSCF) methods and many-body perturbation theories (MBPT) are two strategies for obtaining electronic excitations from first principles. Using the two distinct approaches, we study the O 1s core excitations that have become increasingly important for characterizing transition-metal oxides and understanding strong electronic correlation. The ΔSCF approach, in its current single-particle form, systematically underestimates the pre-edge intensity for chosen oxides, despite its success in weakly correlated systems. By contrast, the Bethe-Salpeter equation within MBPT predicts much better line shapes. This motivates one to reexamine the many-electron dynamics of x-ray excitations. We find that the single-particle ΔSCF approach can be rectified by explicitly calculating many-electron transition amplitudes, producing x-ray spectra in excellent agreement with experiments. This study paves the way to accurately predict x-ray near-edge spectral fingerprints for physics and materials science beyond the Bethe-Salpether equation.

Benchmark results and theoretical treatments for valence-to-core x-ray emission spectroscopy in transition metal compounds

We report measurement of the valence-to-core (VTC) region of the K-shell x-ray emission spectra from several Zn and Fe inorganic compounds, and their critical comparison with several existing theoretical treatments. We find generally good agreement between the respective theories and experiment, and in particular find an important admixture of dipole and quadrupole character for Zn materials that is much weaker in Fe-based systems. These results on materials whose simple crystal structures should not, a prior, pose deep challenges to theory, will prove useful in guiding the further development of DFT and time-dependent DFT methods for VTC-XES predictions and their comparison to experiment.

Exploring the time-scale of photo-initiated interfacial electron transfer through first-principles interpretation of ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy (Presentation Recording)

With the advent of X-ray free electron lasers and table-top high-harmonic-generation X-ray sources, we can now explore changes in electronic structure on ultrafast time scales -- at or less than 1ps. Transient X-ray spectroscopy of this kind provides a direct probe of relevant electronic levels related to photoinitiated processes and associated interfacial electron transfer as the initial step in solar energy conversion. However, the interpretation of such spectra is typically fraught with difficulty, especially since we rarely have access to spectral standards for nonequilibrium states. To this end, direct first-principles simulations of X-ray absorption spectra can provide the necessary connection between measurements and reliable models of the atomic and electronic structure. We present examples of modeling excited states of materials interfaces relevant to solar harvesting and their corresponding X-ray spectra in either photoemission or absorption modalities. In this way, we can establish particular electron transfer mechanisms to reveal detailed working principles of materials systems in solar applications and provide insight for improved efficiency.