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1s2p resonant inelastic x-ray scattering natural circular dichroism

James M. Ablett1,*, Nazanin Kordestani2, Amélie Juhin3, Alessandro De Frenza3, Marie-Anne Arrio3, Patrick Rosa2, Elen Duverger-Nédellec2, Edwige Otero1, Jean-Pascal Rueff1,4 et al.

Philippe Sainctavit1,3 and Elizabeth A. Hillard2

  • *Contact author: james.ablett@synchrotron-soleil.fr

Phys. Rev. B 113, L161116 – Published 21 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/pgjx-znm3

Abstract

Natural circular dichroism (NCD) provides fundamental insight into molecular chirality and stereochemical environments. Extending this concept into the hard-x-ray regime enables element-specific and site-selective chiral sensitivity inaccessible to optical wavelengths. Here, we demonstrate that 1s2p resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) can be used to probe NCD in the enantiomeric model compound [Co(en)3](NO3)2. Using high-resolution detection of Co Kα emission under circularly polarized excitation at the cobalt 1s pre-edge, we observe pronounced dichroic behavior directly linked to the Co-centered chirality. The RIXS-NCD signal reaches ≈23% of the pre-edge maximum—more than twice the amplitude of the previously reported x-ray NCD signal for the same compound—and exhibits the expected angular dependence for the crystal's P6322 symmetry. Two-dimensional RIXS-NCD maps further reveal strong helicity-dependent features across both excitation and emission energies, providing a richer description of the chiral electronic structure. These results establish RIXS-NCD as a photon-in–photon-out methodology for investigating natural optical activity with elemental and orbital specificity, paving the way for future applications to complex chiral and bioinspired materials.

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