Studies of Y-Ba-Cu-O single crystals by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

The symmetry and density of unoccupied states of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 4}O{sub 8} have been investigated by orientation dependent x-ray absorption spectroscopy on the O 1s edge using a bulk-sensitive fluorescence-yield-detection method. It has been found that the O 2p holes are distributed equally between the CuO{sub 2} planes and CuO chains and that the partial density of unoccupied O 2p states in the CuO{sub 2} planes are identical in both systems investigated. The upper Hubbard band has been observed in the planes but not in the chains in both systems. 18 refs