Static and time‐resolved resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering: Recent results and future prospects

Abstract

In the last 20 years, the technique of resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering (RIXS) has been progressing at a high pace thanks to the concomitant development of instrumentation, synchrotron technology, and the theoretical description of the related fundamental process. In this article, we describe some recent aspects related to the fast progress of the RIXS technique and dedicate this article to the memory of Prof. Jean‐Claude Dousse, from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland). We conclude this article by describing early experiments using time‐resolved RIXS at X‐ray free electron lasers and give perspectives on high‐resolution and spatially‐resolved RIXS.

Time-Dependent Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering of Pyrazine at the Nitrogen K-Edge: A Quantum Dynamics Approach

“…The development of high-brilliance synchroton X-ray radiation sources − and X-ray free electron lasers − has enabled techniques that require high photon flux such as resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) and its extension into the ultrafast time domain. − RIXS constitutes a Raman scattering process in which the system is resonantly excited into short-lived core-hole states and spontaneously decays back to the electronic ground and excited states. , This technique combines the element specificity of core-level spectroscopy with the ability to reach valence-excited states across a wide spectral range (>20 eV) even in the condensed phase and at a spectral resolution that is not limited by the core-hole lifetime broadening, making it a versatile and promising tool to study the local electronic structure in complex molecular systems. RIXS to ground and valence-excited states has already been applied in various areas such as the nature of hydrogen-bond interactions, − the photochemistry of transition-metal complexes, − ultrafast dynamics of molecules on surfaces, , proton transfer dynamics, ,, or core-excited state dynamics. − …”