Rare earths and copper systems were studied using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS). The use of monochromased synchrotron radiation and improved energy resolution for RIXS made possible to obtain valuable information on the electronic structure in 4f, 5f and 3d systems. Experimental results for rare-earths (Ho, Gd, Cm,U, Np, Pu) were analyzed by atomic multiplet theory based on the Hartree-Fock calculations. The inelastic scattering structures in RIXS spectra at 5d edge of actinides found to be sensitive to actinide oxidation states in different systems. Comparison of experimental and calculated Cm 5d RIXS spectra gave direct information about valency of the 248-curium isotope in oxide. Scientific understanding of processes that control chemical changes of radioactive species from spent fuel is improved by studying interactions of actinide ions (U, Np, Pu) with corroded iron surfaces. RIXS measurements at the actinide 5d edge indicate the reduction of U(VI), Np (V) and Pu (VI) to U(IV), Np(IV) and Pu (IV) by presence of iron ions. This thesis is also addressed to the study of changes in the electronic structure of copper films during interaction with synthetic groundwater solutions. The surface modifications induced by chemical reactions of oxidized 100Å Cu films with Cl−, SO42− and HCO3– ions in aqueous solutions with various concentrations were studied in-situ using XAS. It was shown that the pH value, the concentration of Cl− ion and presence of HCO3– ion in the solutions strongly affect the speed of the corrosion reaction. The Cu 2p RIXS was used to distinguish between the species present on the copper surface while in contact with groundwater solution.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第18778号 / 理博第4036号 / 新制||理||1581(附属図書館) / 31729 / 京都大学大学院理学研究科物理学・宇宙物理学専攻 / (主査)准教授 松田 和博, 教授 八尾 誠, 教授 田中 耕一郎 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第22240号 / 理博第4554号 / 新制||理||1654(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科物理学・宇宙物理学専攻 / (主査)准教授 松田 和博, 教授 田中 耕一郎, 教授 佐々 真一 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

This thesis addresses the investigation of doubly excited 2l´nl states in helium atoms and double core excitations in solid lithium compounds. Measurements on He are made in field free environments and under the influence of electric and magnetic fields, using synchrotron based inelastic photon scattering. Cross sections for scattering to singly excited final states are directly determined and compared to theoretical results and are found to be in excellent agreement. Radiative and spin-orbit effects are quantified and are shown to play an important role in the overall characterization of highly excited He states below the N =2 threshold. A dramatic electric field dependence is also observed in the flourecence yield already for relatively weak fields. This signal increase, induced by electric as well as magnetic fields, is interpreted in terms of mixing with states of higher fluorescence branching ratios. Double core excitations at the lithium site in solid lithium compounds are investigated using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS). The lithium halides LiF, LiCl, LiBr and LiI are studied as well as the molecular compounds Li2O, Li2CO3 and LiBF4. States with one, as well as both, of the excited electrons localized at the site of the bare lithium nucleus are identified, and transitions which involve additional band excitations are observed. A strong influence of the chemical surrounding is found, and it is discussed in terms of the ionic character of the chemical bond.

X-rays have been widely exploited to unravel the structure of matter since their discovery in 1895. Nowadays, with the emergence of new X-ray sources with higher intensity and very short pulse duration, notably X-ray Free Electron Lasers, the number of experiments that may be considered in the X-ray regime has increased dramatically, making the characterization of gas phase atoms and molecules in space and time possible. This thesis explores in the theoretical analysis and calculation of X-ray scattering atoms and molecules, far beyond the independent atom model. Amethod to calculate inelastic X-ray scattering from atoms and molecules is presented. The method utilizes electronic wavefunctions calculated using ab-initio electronic structure methods. Wavefunctions expressed in Gaussian type orbitals allow for efficient calculations based on analytical Fourier transforms of the electron density and overlap integrals. The method is validated by extensive calculations of inelastic cross-sections in H, He+, He, Ne, C, Na and N2. The calculated cross-sections are compared to cross-sections from inelastic X-ray scattering experiments, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and theoretical reference values. We then begin to account for the effect of nuclear motion, in the first instance by predicting elastic X-ray scattering from state-selected molecules. We find strong signatures corresponding to the specific vibrational and rotational state of (polyatomic) molecules. The ultimate goal of this thesis is to study atomic and molecular wavepackets using time-resolved X-ray scattering. We present a theoretical framework based on quantum electrodynamics and explore various elastic and inelastic limits of the scattering expressions. We then explore X-ray scattering from electronic wavepackets, following on from work by other groups, and finally examine the time-resolved X-ray scattering from non-adiabatic electronic-nuclear wavepackets in the H2 molecule, demonstrating the importance of accounting for the inelastic effects.

<p>This thesis addresses the investigation of doubly excited <i>2l´nl</i> states in helium atoms and double core excitations in solid lithium compounds.</p><p>Measurements on <i>He</i> are made in field free environments and under the influence of electric and magnetic fields, using synchrotron based inelastic photon scattering. Cross sections for scattering to singly excited final states are directly determined and compared to theoretical results and are found to be in excellent agreement. Radiative and spin-orbit effects are quantified and are shown to play an important role in the overall characterization of highly excited <i>He </i>states below the <i>N =2</i> threshold. A dramatic electric field dependence is also observed in the flourecence yield already for relatively weak fields. This signal increase, induced by electric as well as magnetic fields, is interpreted in terms of mixing with states of higher fluorescence branching ratios.</p><p>Double core excitations at the lithium site in solid lithium compounds are investigated using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS). The lithium halides <i>LiF, LiCl, LiBr</i> and <i>LiI </i>are studied as well as the molecular compounds <i>Li</i><i>2</i><i>O, Li</i><i>2</i><i>CO</i><i>3</i> and <i>LiBF</i><i>4</i>. States with one, as well as both, of the excited electrons localized at the site of the bare lithium nucleus are identified, and transitions which involve additional band excitations are observed. A strong influence of the chemical surrounding is found, and it is discussed in terms of the ionic character of the chemical bond.</p>

<p>In this Thesis studies of highly excited states in gas-phase atoms and molecules (He, Ne, N₂, O₂, N₂O and CO₂) using a variety of synchrotron-radiation based techniques are presented. The three techniques used most frequently are X-ray-emission-threshold-electron coincidence (XETECO), X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and they are all given a brief introduction. </p><p>The fluorescence yield (FY) from doubly excited states in helium near the N=2 threshold(s) has been investigated in weak static external magnetic and electric fields, but also in a field free environment. The FY spectra in weak static magnetic fields show the importance of including the diamagnetic interaction in the theoretical models. The presence of weak static electric fields shows that even weak fields (as low as 44 V/cm) has a great impact on the observed FY spectra. Resonant XES spectra from some of the first doubly excited states in helium has been recorded in a field free environment, and compared to theory.</p><p>The XETECO technique is presented and the first XETECO results from Ne, N₂, O₂, CO₂ and N₂O are shown, together with interpretations of possible threshold dynamics. I show that XETECO can be interpreted as threshold photoelectron spectra free from post collision interaction, and can hence be compared to above threshold XPS measurements. The observed below-threshold structures in the XETECO spectra are discussed and given a tentative explanation. The results from the analysis of the N₂O XETECO spectrum lead to further investigations using XPS. Results showing the vibrational parameters and vibrationally resolved cross-sections and asymmetry parameters for N₂O are presented together with theoretical predictions.</p>

In this Thesis studies of highly excited states in gas-phase atoms and molecules (He, Ne, N2, O2, N2O and CO2) using a variety of synchrotron-radiation based techniques are presented. The three techniques used most frequently are X-ray-emission-threshold-electron coincidence (XETECO), X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and they are all given a brief introduction. The fluorescence yield (FY) from doubly excited states in helium near the N=2 threshold(s) has been investigated in weak static external magnetic and electric fields, but also in a field free environment. The FY spectra in weak static magnetic fields show the importance of including the diamagnetic interaction in the theoretical models. The presence of weak static electric fields shows that even weak fields (as low as 44 V/cm) has a great impact on the observed FY spectra. Resonant XES spectra from some of the first doubly excited states in helium has been recorded in a field free environment, and compared to theory. The XETECO technique is presented and the first XETECO results from Ne, N2, O2, CO2 and N2O are shown, together with interpretations of possible threshold dynamics. I show that XETECO can be interpreted as threshold photoelectron spectra free from post collision interaction, and can hence be compared to above threshold XPS measurements. The observed below-threshold structures in the XETECO spectra are discussed and given a tentative explanation. The results from the analysis of the N2O XETECO spectrum lead to further investigations using XPS. Results showing the vibrational parameters and vibrationally resolved cross-sections and asymmetry parameters for N2O are presented together with theoretical predictions.

In order to elucidate the effects of nanostructuring on electron behavior in vanadium oxides, a suite of x-ray spectroscopy techniques was employed to comprehensively characterize the electronic structures of V2O5 and VO2 nanoparticles and compare them to their bulk counterparts. V2O5 and VO2 nanoparticle powders were characterized via PXRD, TEM, and HR-TEM to confirm size, purity, and crystallinity. Additionally, DSC and temperature-varied PXRD measurements on both VO2 samples confirmed the structural aspect of the monoclinic to rutile metal-insulator phase transition, and UV-Vis measurements allowed for Kubelka-Munk analysis on the V2O5 samples. XAS measurements enable the comparison of unoccupied conduction band states, while XES and RIXS measurements reveal occupied valence band states and the individual vanadium and oxygen PDOS below the Fermi level. XPS measurements of both core and valence band states both confirmed the valence band structure revealed by XES and also provide information on core-state energy levels. In the case of V2O5, the valence band O 2p states are upshifted in the nanoparticle sample, while the lowest V 3d conduction band states are unshifting but provide more available unoccupied states for excitation. These changes produce a shrunken bandgap in the V2O5 nanoparticles that is in line with much previous computational work, but unexpected from previous experimental results and defies the Moss-Burstein effect usually observed in V2O5. The resulting changes in band structure are attributed to a higher concentration of oxygen vacancy defects in the nanoparticle sample. Additionally, electron correlation effects in V2O5 nanoparticles are found to be enhanced relative to the bulk, likely due to added electron presence in the V 3d split-off band. In the case of VO2, dramatic changes in both the valence band and conduction band states are observed both below and above the structural phase transition temperature. These changes (lowered unoccupied conduction band states coupled with broadened and upshifted occupied valence band states) also lead to nanoparticle bandgap reduction and enhanced metallicity. The enhanced metallic nature of the VO2 nanoparticles is again attributed to the increased presence of surface oxygen vacancy defects, as well as a V2O3-like surface reconstruction. Additionally, electron correlation effects are found to be reduced in the VO2 nanoparticle samples relative to the bulk, unlike in the case of V2O5.

This thesis focuses on the theoretical investigation of the electronic structure and magnetic interactions present in 3d and 4d/5d transition metal compounds. We use many-body quantum chemistry methods that provide a theoretical frame for the rigorous construction and systematic improvement of correlated N-electron wave-functions. In Chapter 3 we compute d-d transitions fully ab initio and assign excitation peaks of experimental spectra measured in spin-Peierls TiPO4 compound. In this material we find that the d1 ground state is composed of an admixture of dz2 and dxz orbital character, which is related to the large positive ionic charge at P sites in the xz plane (defining the shortest Ti-P links) and of Ti nearest-neighbors along the z axis. In addition, the magnitude of the nearest-neighbors Heisenberg magnetic coupling calculated by quantum chemistry methods compares well with resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) experimental data. We further demonstrate that the intersite exchange is very sensitive to the Ti-Ti interatomic distance, which is relevant in the context of spin-Peierls physics in TiPO4. In Chapter 4 we have studied the magnetic anisotropy of Fe ions within the Li3N lattice. The calculated magnetic anisotropy splitting of 26.3 meV for Fe2+ d6 ions in D6h symmetry compares favorably to values measured or computed by similar theoretical methods for Fe1+ d7 species with linear coordination. This substantial spin-reversal energy barrier of the Fe2+ ion is associated with a a^1_{1g}e^3_{2g}e^2_{1g} ground-state electron configuration. Our study therefore puts into the spotlight the linearly coordinated Fe2+ d6 ion as candidate for viable single molecule magnet behavior. In Chapter 5 we address the effect of electron-lattice interactions on the magnetic properties of 4d and 5d TM ions with a formally degenerate t^1_{2g} electron configuration in the double-perovskite materials Ba2YMoO6, Ba2LiOsO6 and Ba2NaOsO6. Our analysis indicates that the sizable magnetic moments and g-factors found experimentally are due to both strong TM d -- ligand p hybridization and dynamic Jahn-Teller effects. Our results also point out that cation charge imbalance in the double-perovskite structure allows a fine tuning of the gap between the t2g and eg levels. The mechanism has not been explored so far experimentally but seems to hold much potential in the context of orbital engineering in transition metal compounds. In Chapter 6 we report a study of magnetic exchange interactions in the S=3/2 orthorhombic perovskite NaOsO3. We mapped the ab initio quantum chemistry results onto model Hamiltonians including both isotropic Heisenberg interactions and anisotropic Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya exchange. We found antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbors Heisenberg exchange interactions of J_ac = 24.4 meV and J_b = 20.9 meV, twice larger than the J extracted from the magnon excitation spectra. The quantum chemistry results motivate further experimental measurements or theoretical analysis to clarify the magnitude of the nearest-neighbors Heisenberg couplings. In Chapter 7 we provide valuable insights on the effective magnetic interactions in 5d and 4d oxides with face-sharing oxygen octahedra, BaIrO3 and BaRhO3, for different bond-angles and bond-lengths. The large antiferromagnetic Heisenberg interactions computed here emphasize the subtle interplay among strong spin-orbit interactions, direct intersite orbital overlap and orbital bonding, and couplings to the lattice degrees of freedom in face-sharing compounds. In Chapter 8 we apply a computational scheme for computing intensities as measured in X-ray absorption and RIXS experiments. We take into account the readjustment of the charge distribution in the vicinity of an excited electron for the modeling of RIXS. For L3-edge spectra of Cu2+ 3d9 ions in KCuF3, we discuss the way to consider orbital ordering effects (alternately occupied d_x2-z2 and d_y2-z2 orbitals). For L3-edge spectra of Ni2+ 3d8 ions in La2NiO4, the computed spectra reproduce trends found experimentally for the incoming-photon incident-angle and polarization dependence.