X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON CORE-LEVEL STUDIES OF HEAVY RARE-EARTH-METALS AND THEIR OXIDES

Systematic measurements of the core-electron binding energies of the rare-earth metals terbium to lutetium, and their surface and bulk oxides, have been made. Comparison of the measured binding energies for the core levels with accepted tabulations reveals discrepancies that cast doubt on normally accepted values for the heavier elements. The results are in good agreement with many-electron predictions. The existence of additional structure predicted by the correlated hole theory is confirmed.