A new method of directly determining the core-hole effect in the Ce L3 XAS of mixed valence Ce compounds-An application of resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy

Using a simplified model, we calculate resonant X-ray emission (RXE) spectra with Ce 2p to 5d excitation and Ce nl to 2p de-excitation for mixed valence Ce compounds, where nl is 3d or valence states. If the core-hole effect is large to play an important role in the Ce L-3 XAS, the RXE spectral features for nl = 3d and valence states are significantly different, but if it is negligibly small, they are essentially the same. Therefore, these RXE spectra are useful as a new powerful method of directly determining the core-hole effect in the L-3 XAS. More detailed theoretical calculations of these RXE spectra are made for CeO2, and compared with new experimental data, indicating the importance of the core-hole effect. Similar investigations are desirable for some metallic mixed valence Ce compounds in which the core-hole effect is controversial. Finally, we point out that for nl = 5d we can observe the resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectra corresponding to the charge-transfer excitations or Kondo resonance excitations. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.