EBS workshop on X-ray Emission Spectroscopy

100 scientists from 18 countries met at the ESRF 3-5 December to discuss instrumentation, applications and theory of X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES). This technique is a cousin – or rather grandfather - of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) but with the scientific questions more focused on chemical problems in (bio)catalysis, materials, environmental and geo-science rather than solid state physics and magnetism. 32 participants gave talks and 32 posters were presented. Three sponsors supported the event financially. The first two sessions on instrumental developments in XES showed the great variety of spectrometers that are used at synchrotron radiation sources but also in laboratories that rely on other sources of X-rays. The presentations on innovative X-ray instrumentation attracted many ESRF staff members and the auditorium was filled beyond the number of registered participants. Some scientific cases where XES was able to address long-standing problems were presented in the following sessions. One full session was dedicated to actinide research where XES has recently made significant impact. The workshop ended with two sessions on data analysis and theory that documented the dramatic improvement in theoretical modeling but also the limitations in the understanding of some of the data. The audience participated in all sessions with very lively discussions. The new possibilities with EBS particularly on ID24-DCM triggered the imagination of many participants and new ideas were debated over coffee and dinner.