Polarized X-ray absorption and double refraction in vanadyl bisacetylacetonate

X-ray dichroism is observed in crystalline vanadyl bisacetylacetonate, VO²⁺.2(C₅H₇O₂)^-, near the vanadium K edge in absorption experiments with linearly polarized synchrotron radiation. The Kossel structure is polarized as a result of the symmetries of molecular orbitals in this strongly anisotropic molecule. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure is polarized because of the difference in distance to the axial and equatorial oxygen neighbors. In this wavelength region, the anomalous-scattering terms and the index of refraction vary with the direction of polarization. Some of the consequences and possible applications of these properties are discussed.