Dipolar excitations at the LIII x-ray absorption edges of the heavy rare earth metals

We report measured dipolar asymmetry ratios at the LIII edges of the heavy rare earth metals. The results are compared with a first principles calculation and excellent agreement is found. A simple model of the scattering is developed, enabling us to re-interpret the resonant x-ray scattering in these materials and to identify the peaks in the asymmetry ratios with features in the spin and orbital moment densities.