Resonant soft X-ray fluorescence spectra of molecules

A review is presented of some recent advancements in resonant soft X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy applied to molecules. The concept of inelastic scattering is discussed for molecules with an element of symmetry, which introduces degeneracy or near-degeneracy of core excited states. The potential of the symmetry selection rules associated with resonant X-ray fluorescence is illustrated in studies of electronic structure as well as molecular dynamics. The use of polarized photons for exciting X-ray emission is discussed, and examples are presented where anisotropy of X-ray emission provides more detailed information. A brief section discusses the experimental considerations relevant for the spectroscopic technique.