1. X-ray absorption spectroscopy: basic principles

Synchrotron radiation [P 2 700] consists of light emitted by relativistic electrons or positrons undergoing centripetal acceleration. The main characteristics of synchrotron radiation are as follows:

• very broad spectrum of wavelengths (which justifies the name white light) from the far infrared (1 eV) to hard X-rays (50 keV), with a high intensity, three or four orders of magnitude greater than that obtained with a rotating anode;

• high-brightness, slightly divergent beam ;

• ...