Can the Number of D Electrons in Transition Metals be Measured from White Lines?

Abstract

Sharp peaks at threshold are a prominent feature of the L23 electron energy loss edges of both first and second row transition elements. Their intensity decreases monotonically as the atomic number increases across the period. It would therefore seem likely that the number of d electrons at a transition metal atom site and any variation with alloying could be measured from the L23 electron energy loss spectrum. Pearson measured the white line intensities for a series of both 3d and 4d transition metals. He normalised the white line intensity to the intensity in a continuum region 50eV wide starting 50eV above threshold. When this normalised intensity was plotted against the number of d electrons assumed for each elements he obtained a monotonie but non linear variation. The energy loss spectrum is given bywhich is a product of p<,the density of d states, and the matrix elements for transitions between 2p and d states.