Angular and polarization dependence of x-ray resonant elastic scattering in transition metals

We present a comparison of the x-ray elastic scattering at the 2p threshold of Ni calculated both in a single-ion picture with a full description of the multiplet manifolds of the electron configurations and in a one-electron model using a multiple scattering approach for the excited intermediate state. We study the case of perpendicular geometry of the circularly polarized incoming light and analyze the variation of the intensity of the emitted light along a conical scan. We discuss the results obtained in the two approaches for the total and dichroic signals, that confirm the presence of a significant anisotropy as previously predicted in the inelastic case. © 2006 The American Physical Society.