Probing orbital symmetry in solution: Polarization-dependent resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering on liquid micro-jet

Polarization-dependent resonant inelastic x-ray scattering is demonstrated here for liquid acetonitrile, acetone and dimethyl sulfoxide, using the liquid micro-jet technique. Selective excitation to an unoccupied orbital with a specific symmetry at the K-edge x-ray absorption of liquid samples determines the polarization-dependent emission of the occupied states. Considering the well-defined unoccupied molecular orbital configuration and utilizing the results of ab initio molecular orbital calculations, the polarization-dependent anisotropy in resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering is discussed in a membrane-free configuration.