M(3,2)-EDGE X-RAY-ABSORPTION NEAR-EDGE STRUCTURE SPECTROSCOPY - AN ALTERNATIVE PROBE TO THE L(3,2)-EDGE NEAR-EDGE STRUCTURE FOR THE UNOCCUPIED DENSITIES OF D-STATES OF 5D METALS

We report M(3,2)-edge x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) mea surements for a series of 5d metals, Ta, W, Pt, and Au using a total e lectron yield technique. It is found that the M(3,2) XANES absorption features and their systematics are comparable to their L(3,2) counterp arts. These results clearly indicate that M(3,2)-edge XANES can be use d as an alternative probe for the unoccupied densities of d states of the 5d metals and their compounds. The implication of these results is discussed. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.