Angle-resolved resonant inelastic x-ray scattering from transition-metal magnetic ions

We present a study on the x-ray inelastic scattering at the 2p resonance of transition metals. The theoretical results are discussed in the single-ion model with crystal-field corrections and the full description of multiplet manifolds. The interference effects among the intermediate states are described as a function of the directions and polarizations of the incoming and outcoming beams. We consider the special case where the emission is due to inner-shell recombination. A variety of peculiar effects are discussed, with special reference to the perpendicular geometry of the incoming beam. The simplest cases are analytically examined showing the potential sensitivity of this technique to the electronic structure. Numerical results for the total and dichroic signals for some elements of the 3d series are given.