AbstractQuenching of vibrational excitations in resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra of liquid acetic acid is observed. At the oxygen core resonance associated with localized excitations at the O–H bond, the spectra lack the typical progression of vibrational excitations observed in RIXS spectra of comparable systems. We interpret this phenomenon as due to strong rehybridization of the unoccupied molecular orbitals as a result of hydrogen bonding, which however cannot be observed in x-ray absorption but only by means of RIXS. This allows us to address the molecular structure of the liquid, and to determine a lower limit for the average molecular chain length.
A four-bounce monochromator assembly composed of Ge(111) and Ge(220) monolithic channel-cut monochromators with V-shaped channels in a quasi-dispersive configuration is presented. The assembly provides an optimal design in terms of the highest transmittance and photon flux density per detector pixel while maintaining high beam collimation. A monochromator assembly optimized for the highest recorded intensity per detector pixel of a linear detector placed 2.5 m behind the assembly was realized and tested by high-resolution X-ray diffraction and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements using a microfocus X-ray source. Conventional symmetric and asymmetric Ge(220) Bartels monochromators were similarly tested and the results were compared. The new assembly provides a transmittance that is an order of magnitude higher and 2.5 times higher than those provided by the symmetric and asymmetric Bartels monochromators, respectively, while the output beam divergence is twice that of the asymmetric Bartels monochromator. These results demonstrate the advantage of the proposed monochromator assembly in cases where the resolution can be partially sacrificed in favour of higher transmittance while still maintaining high beam collimation. Weakly scattering samples such as nanostructures are an example. A general advantage of the new monochromator is a significant reduction in the exposure time required to collect usable experimental data. A comparison of the theoretical and experimental results also reveals the current limitations of the technology of polishing hard-to-reach surfaces in X-ray crystal optics.
Vibrational resonant inelastic X-ray scattering in liquid acetic acid: a ruler for molecular chain lengths