Double photoexcitation of 2p and 4f electrons in curium

The L3-edge x-ray absorption spectrum of the aqua trivalent Cm ion in aqueous solution exhibits a double photoexcitation involving 2p and 4f electrons. The sharp resonance structure of the multielectron excitation reveals a shake-up process at 508.110 eV. The data indicate a monotonic increase of the [2p4f] excitation energy between elements of sixth period (Au, Hg, Pb, and Bi) and the early actinides (Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am and Cm).