A new analysis of X-ray adsorption branching ratios: Use of Russell-Saunders coupling

The V LII,III-edge and the O 1s excitation spectra for V2O5. The predicted positions of the two intense LII,III-edge peaks are shown as vertical lines. We demonstrate the relationship between the composition of a spin-orbit split level in terms of Russell-Saunders multiplets and the intensity of this level in X-ray absorption processes. It is shown that the composition of an excited relativistic level in terms of Russell-Saunders multiplets that are allowed from the selection rules for the adsorption of photons provides a guide the intensities of the spin-orbit split levels