Resonant magnetic x-ray scattering from terbium

Resonant magnetic x-ray scattering from Tb in the spiral phase is studied in great detail. Polarization analysis in the sigma-sigma' and sigma-pi' channels has been performed for magnetic (0, 0, l +/- tau) satellite reflections over the accessible wavevector range Q = 1.9-6.5 angstrom(-1). A characteristic splitting of the resonance signal as a function of energy has been observed at the L(II) as well as at the L(III) absorption edge. The shape of the resonance depends on Q and is different for the two edges. Up to three components were observed with a separation in energy between 3.3 and 4.9 eV, compared to a core hole lifetime broadening of 2.5 eV, which is in agreement with the density of states in Tb metal.