Resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy and x-ray absorption near-edge structure experiments have been performed on Am metal at the $L_3$ edge as a function of pressure. The hypothesis that the Am valence change at high pressure is associated with a mixing of the $5f^6$ and $5f^7$ configurations, hybridized with the $6d$ valence band, is not substantiated by the experiments. Neither the measured resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy nor x-ray absorption near-edge structure exhibit additional features expected for mixed valence. Only a small shift $\sim +2\text{eV}$ of the $L_3$ edge energy position and a decrease in white line intensity at high pressure is observed. The experimental results at higher pressure may be reproduced by increasing the $6d$ bandwidth and occupation and increasing the $5f$ bandwidth without any change in occupation. Further progress should be directed toward experiments at the Am $M$ edges to observe directly the $5f$ states.

• Received 11 October 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.201103