Resonant "forbidden" reflections in magnetite

Resonant x-ray scattering was used to investigate electronic fluctuations o f the octahedral iron atoms in magnetite. We measured the (002) and (006) " forbidden" x-ray diffraction reflections permitted by the anisotropy of the iron anomalous scattering factor. The energy and azimuthal angle dependenc ies of these reflections, and the polarization analysis, an shown and discu ssed. The results clearly show p and d iron empty states ordering in magnet ite at room temperature. Moreover, the octahedral iron atoms an electronica lly equivalent in a time scale lower than 10(-16) sec. Therefore, magnetite should be considered as an itinerant magnet and not as a fluctuating mixed valence material.