A study of theEXAFS associated with theK x-ray absorption discontinuity of germanium in pure germanium and in the rare-earth germanides RGe₂ (where R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Y) has been carried out. The Ge-Ge distances have been obtained in these compounds. Considering the phase to the RGe₂ system, the bond lengths in these compounds have been determined. The values obtained by us for the RGe₂ compounds (R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy and Y) agree with those obtained earlier by crystallographic methods. The bond lengths for the compounds TbGe₂, HoGe₂ and ErGe₂ are also being reported.

The extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) associated with the GeK x-ray absorption discontinuity in pure germanium and in the intermetallics RGe₂ (R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Y) has been studied. The Ge-R distances in these compounds have been determined by comparing the experimental phase shifts with the theoretical ones. The Ge-R distances in the compounds TbGe₂, HoGe₂ and ErGe₂ are being reported for the first time in this work.