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The mean valence of Yb metal was investigated in the pressure range 0 to 340 kbar at room temperature by LIII edge spectroscopy using a diamond-anvil cell and a focusing x-ray absorption spectrometer. Structure and position of the observed LIII edges show that Yb metal is divalent in the fcc phase (0-40 kbar) and trivalent in the hcp phase (above 300 kbar). In the bcc phase (40-300 kbar) a continuous valence transition towards 3+ is observed.
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Syassen et al. (1982) studied this question.
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