Carbon-K Edge in Graphite Measured Using Electron-Energy-Loss Spectroscopy

We have measured the carbon $K$ edge in graphite using inelastic-electron-scattering spectroscopy. The extended x-ray absorption fine structure is in good agreement with theory for the first-neighbor atoms at a distance of 1.42 \AA{}. The momentum dependence of the edge structure is in qualitative agreement with a simple band-structure picture. A comparison of the signal counting rates for electron-energy-loss and photoabsorption experiments shows that the energy-loss method is competitive with synchrotron radiation sources up to about 1000 eV.