Core-hole screening response in two-dimensional cuprates: A high-resolution x-ray photoemission study

We have studied the core level photoemission spectra of the two-dimensional cuprates Sr2CuO2Cl2, Sr2CuO2Br2, Ca2CuO2Cl2, Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta, and Nd2CuO4, with particular focus on the screening response to core-hole creation in the Cu-2p(3/2) level. The influence of the apex positions on the shape of the so-called main line is investigated, and found to be weak. Additionally, an Anderson impurity model was used to fit the shape of the main lines, obtaining good agreement with the data from Nd2CuO4. For the other compounds, while the energy spread of the two screening channels (local and nonlocal) is well reproduced, the theory underestimates the width of the nonlocally screened feature. The shapes of the main lines are discussed in detail.