Multielectron excitations at the L absorption edge of rare earths

In this work, an x-ray absorption study at the L edges of several rare earth compounds is presented. In both L2 and L3 spectra a multi electron structure is clearly extracted and interpreted as an intra-atomic two-electron transition involving 2p and 4d electrons. In particular this work clearly investigates the presence and characterizes the structures in the EXAFS spectra. The role of multiplets and the cross sections of the allowed double electron transitions are also discussed.