We used electron-energy-loss spectrometry to measure the intensities of the white lines found at the onsets of the ${\mathit{L}}_2$ and ${\mathit{L}}_3$ absorption edges for most of the 3d and 4d transition metals. The intensities of the white lines, normalized to the trailing background, decreased nearly linearly with increasing atomic number, reflecting the filling of the d states. One-electron Hartree-Slater calculations of the white-line intensities were in good agreement with observed spectra. Empirical correlations between normalized white-line intensity and d-state occupancy provide a method for measuring changes in d-state occupancy due to alloying.

• Received 30 November 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.47.8471