Observation of occupied 5d states in f.c.c. Yb metal

We propose experimental evidences for the sd character of the occupied band states of f.c.c. Yb metal. Photoionization cross-section σ*in the range 24-65 eV, covering the 5p core electron energies have been measured for both Yb (4fhook146s25d0) and Lu (4fhook146s25d1). Both the hv dependence of σ*for the Yb valence band and the presence of photoemission resonances above the 5p edges of Lu and Yb indicate the presence of occupied 5d states at the top of the valence band of solid Yb. The Yb 4fhook σ*is presented in order to distinguish the 5d band resonances from the 5p-5d giant dipole autoionization decays. L2, 3X-ray absorption white lines for Yb provide a measure of the 5d bandwidth.