Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering of EuNi2(Si_1-xGe _x)2 and Eu₂O₃ at Eu L₃ absorption edge

Bulk sensitive spectroscopies were performed for mixed valent compounds EuNi₂(Si_1-xGe_x)₂ as a function of x, and Eu-sesquioxide (Eu₂O₃), using techniques of high-resolution partial-fluorescence yield (PFY) and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the Eu L₃ absorption edge. The evolution of mean-valency as a function of chemical composition x in EuNi₂(Si _1-xGe_x)₂ shows a drastic change between x = 0.5 and 0.7. The experimental results also show a small amount of mixed valency for the end members, i.e., x = 1 and 0 samples are also mixed valent. Single-impurity Anderson model calculations show good agreement with the PFY and RIXS experimental results, and thus provide a consistent set of electronic structure parameters. The composition controlled drastic change in meanvalence between x = 0.5 and 0.7 is derived from a large hybridization change, consistent with the Kondo volume collapse picture.