\emph{d-d} electronic excitations in manganites by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering.

We report a study of the electronic excitations in a range of magnetic and electronic ground states in manganites utilizing Mn \emph{K}-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. The spectra were measured between 1.5 and 16 eV of energy loss, at finite \emph{q}. Excitations with energy as high as 10 eV exhibits a temperature dependence which is systematicaly related to the magnetism. On the basis of LDA+U, we calculated the electronic structure, the Wannier functions of the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied states, and finite-\emph{q} response functions. The finite-\emph{q} dynamical structure factor reproduce the main features and the magnetic dependence of the spectra. We identify the temperature dependent excitations as the intersite electron transfers between spin-polarized states. These excitations are enhanced (reduced) for ferro-magnetic (anti-) Mn neighbors.