Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) Spectroscopy

Abstract

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) refers to the oscillatory variation of the X-ray absorption as a function of photon energy beyond an absorption edge. The absorption, normally expressed in terms of absorption coefficient (μ), can be determined from a measurement of the attenuation of X-rays upon their passage through a material. When the X-ray photon energy (E) is tuned to the binding energy of some core level of an atom in the material, an abrupt increase in the absorption coefficient, known as the absorption edge, occurs. For isolated atoms, the absorption coefficient decreases monotonically as a function of energy beyond the edge. For atoms either in a molecule or embedded in a condensed phase, the variation of absorption coefficient at energies above the absorption edge displays a fine structure called EXAFS. Such fine structure may extend up to 1000 eV above the absorption edge and may have an amplitude of up to a few tenths (normally 1–20%) of the edge jump.KeywordsNeighboring AtomComposite WaveAmplitude Reduction FactorDirect BackscatteringOutgoing PhotoelectronThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.