Dipolar excitations at the LIII x-ray absorption edges of the heavy rare earth metals

TL;DR

This paper investigates dipolar excitations at the LIII x-ray absorption edges of heavy rare earth metals, combining experimental measurements with theoretical modeling to interpret resonant x-ray scattering and relate it to electronic structure features.

Contribution

It introduces a simple scattering model that re-interprets resonant x-ray scattering in heavy rare earth metals, linking asymmetry ratios to spin and orbital moments.

Findings

Measured dipolar asymmetry ratios match first principles calculations

Developed a scattering model for resonant x-ray scattering

Identified peaks in asymmetry ratios with electronic moment features

Abstract

We report measured dipolar asymmetry ratios at the LIII edges of the heavy rare earth metals. The results are compared with a first principles calculation and excellent agreement is found. A simple model of the scattering is developed, enabling us to re-interpret the resonant x-ray scattering in these materials and to identify the peaks in the asymmetry ratios with features in the spin and orbital moment densities.