  High energy-resolution fluorescence-detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy
and density functional theory calculations were used to investigate the local
bonding and electronic structure of Sc in epitaxial wurtzite-structure
Sc$_{x}$Ga$_{1-x}$N films with x $\le$ 0.059. Sc atoms are found to substitute
for Ga atoms, accompanied by a local distortion involving an increase in the
internal lattice parameter u around the Sc atoms. The local bonding and
electronic structure at Sc are not affected strongly by the strain state or the
defect microstructure of the films. These data are consistent with theoretical
predictions regarding the electronic structure of dilute Sc$_{x}$Ga$_{1-x}$N
alloys.
