Opening of a Peierls gap in BaVS3 probed by V L-3 edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

V L-3 edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering measurements performed on high quality BaVS3 single crystals reveal that the intra-t(2g) dd excitations close to the elastic peak are suppressed below the metal-insulator transition induced by the Peierls instability. The depletion of electronic states close to the Fermi level represents a direct observation of the opening of a charge gap inside the t(2g) manifold.