{
  "abstract": "Models of unconventional superconductivity in cuprates and nickelates depend sensitively on the distribution of valence electrons among the $d$ orbitals. But accurately determining the orbital electron or hole occupations in these systems remains a difficult and unresolved task. Here, using $s$-core-level non-resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the Ni $M_1$ edge, we determine the angular distribution of the Ni $3d$ holes in a single crystal of La$_2$SmNi$_2$O$_7$. Our results demonstrate that the hole occupation ratio $\\hz/\\hx = 0.94\\pm0.06$, thus significantly above the expected value of $2/3$ for a filled $d_{z^2}$ orbitals models and close to value expected in a Hund's-coupling picture. Our results support superconductivity scenarios in which both $e_g$ orbitals contribute to the electron-pairing mechanism in La$_2$SmNi$_2$O$_7$.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2611.01118",
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Ethan Saïman"
    },
    {
      "name": "Feiyu Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Junjie Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jean-Pascal Rueff"
    },
    {
      "name": "Victor Balédent"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/93kqnx42jqehr.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2611.01118",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "93kqnx42jqehr",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.01118",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.str-el"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.supr-con"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2611.01118",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/93kqnx42jqehr.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:20:59Z",
      "native_id": "2611.01118",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.01118"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.str-el",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Direct imaging of the Ni $e_g$ hole orbitals in the bilayer nickelate La$_2$SmNi$_2$O$_7$",
  "title_text": "Direct imaging of the Ni e_g hole orbitals in the bilayer nickelate La_2SmNi_2O_7",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T15:20:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/93kqnx42jqehr",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}