Mean valence of Yb metal in the pressure range 0 to 340 kbar

Abstract

The mean valence of Yb metal was investigated in the pressure range 0 to 340 kbar at room temperature by ${L}_{\mathrm{III}}$ edge spectroscopy using a diamond-anvil cell and a focusing x-ray absorption spectrometer. Structure and position of the observed ${L}_{\mathrm{III}}$ edges show that Yb metal is divalent in the fcc phase (0-40 kbar) and trivalent in the hcp phase (above 300 kbar). In the bcc phase (40-300 kbar) a continuous valence transition towards 3+ is observed.