Fine structure in the quadrupolar transition of the Ho<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:msub><mml:mi>L</mml:mi><mml:mn>3</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:math>pre-edge observed by lifetime-broadening-suppressed XANES spectroscopy

Abstract

The $2p3d$ resonant inelastic x-ray-scattering spectra of ${\mathrm{Ho}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ are measured under $0.7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ resolution and analyzed in terms of an equation based on the Kramers-Heisenberg formula. Broadening due to core-hole lifetime $(4.26\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV})$ is completely suppressed to give sharp absorption bands with width of $&lt;0.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ together with energy position uncertainty $\ensuremath{\sim}0.3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$. Observed bands are assigned to be well-known $2p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4f$ quadrupolar transitions that are otherwise buried under lifetime-broadened intense $2p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5d$ dipole transition. The present work opens up an opportunity to study $4f\text{\ensuremath{-}}5d$ interactions more accurately.