We study the core hole-electron correlation in coherently coupled molecules
by energy dispersive near edge X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy. In
a transient phase, which exists during the transition between two bulk
arrangements, 1,4,5,8-naphthalene-tetracarboxylicacid-dianhydride multilayer
films exhibit peculiar changes of the line shape and energy position of the
X-ray absorption signal at the C K-edge with respect to the bulk and gas phase
spectra. By a comparison to a theoretical model based on a coupling of
transition dipoles, which is established for optical absorption, we demonstrate
that the observed spectroscopic differences can be explained by an
intermolecular delocalized core hole-electron pair. By applying this model we
can furthermore quantify the coherence length of the delocalized core-exciton.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Accepted Version, PRL, minor wording change
