Theoretical investigation of Al K-edge X-ray absorption spectra of Al, AlN and Al₂O₃

High-resolution X-ray absorption spectra of Al, AlN and Al ₂O₃ are measured at the Al K-edge, which have revealed a chemical shift in the threshold energy and significant differences in the spectral fine structures among the three compounds. In order to interpret the chemical shift and the fine structures of these spectra, first-principles calculations using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the density functional theory are carried out, taking into account the core-hole effect. The resultant theoretical spectra quantitatively reproduce both the chemical shift and the spectral fine structures of the experimental ones. The dependence of the theoretical spectra on the supercell size is also examined.