The hole distribution in Sr14Cu24O41 is studied by low temperature polarization dependent O K Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure measurements and state of the art electronic structure calculations that include core-hole and correlation effects in a mean-field approach. Contrary to all previous analysis, based on semi-empirical models, we show that correlations and antiferromagnetic ordering favor the strong chain hole-attraction. For the remaining small number of holes accommodated on ladders, leg-sites are preferred to rung-sites. The small hole affinity of rung-sites explains naturally the 1D - 2D cross-over in the phase diagram of (La,Y,Sr,Ca)14Cu24O41
@article{arxiv.1111.3225,
title = {Hole-depletion of ladders in Sr$_{14}$Cu$_{24}$O$_{41}$ induced by correlation effects},
author = {V. Ilakovac and C. Gougoussis and M. Calandra and N. B. Brookes and V. Bisogni and S. G. Chiuzbaian and J. Akimitsu and O. Milat and S. Tomić and C. F. Hague},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1111.3225},
year = {2015}
}