Novel techniques and approaches to unravel the nature of X-ray absorption spectra

This paper discusses the role of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) to unravel the nature of the states that are visible in the pre-edge region of the 3d metal K edges. The traditional pre-edge analysis into quadrupole transitions to the 3d-states plus dipole transitions to the 4p states is outlined, with special attention to the situation of TiO2. The general possibilities of RIXS are described, including the various possible cross-sections through the 2D RIXS plane. Recent developments in High-Energy Resolution Fluorescence Detection (HERFD) are discussed, that yield XANES-like spectra with unprecedented resolution. Using the 1s2p RIXS of LiCoO2 as example, the presence of an extra peak due to non-local dipole transitions is explained. The non-local nature of this dipole pre-edge peak is proven from its behavior in the 2D RIXS plane. The paper also discusses a range of selective X-ray absorption experiments, where the selectivity is towards (a) the spin-state, (b) the valence, (c) the neighbor atom and (d) the edge. In the outlook, a number of additional experimental routes is suggested, which shows that the use of RIXS, HERFD and selective XAS techniques is only just starting