1s2p Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering Magnetic Circular Dichroism as a probe for the local and non-local orbitals in CrO2

We use crystal field multiplet calculations to model the excitonic RIXS-MCD spectral shape in tetragonal (D4h) symmetry. The RIXS-MCD is strongly sensitive to the ground state distortion of the Cr4+ sites. The calculations of the RIXS-MCD maps suggest that the 3d spin-orbit interaction is fully quenched (ζ3d = 0 meV) and the ground state electron configuration must contain a 3B2g (D4h) contribution, which is required to explain the appearance of the Magnetic Circular Dichroism (MCD) in the Cr K pre-edge. This is in apparent contrast with the compressed tetragonal distortion.