Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering of curium oxide

The measurements on radioactive actinide isotopes (curium-248) were performed using very small sample quantities (micrograms) to minimize the sample activity. Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra of curium oxide at the Cm 5d edge were measured for the first time. RIXS data are compared with theoretical calculations using atomic multiplet theory. The results indicate that isotope curium -248 in the curium oxide sample has oxidation state III due to the best agreement with RIXS calculations for Cm (III) instead of those for Cm (IV).