New Mössbauer studies

Abstract

The Mössbauer Effect is a nuclear γ-ray resonance fluorescence phenomenon involving excitations from the ground state to the isomeric level. It was discovered by R. L. Mössbauer in 1958 and for this and subsequent work he was awarded the Nobel Prise in Physics in 1961. The potential use of the Mössbauer Effect to provide chemical information was realised in 1960 when it was found that the β-ray energy or energies which give resonance in the 57Fe nucleus vary slightly according to the chemical environment of the absorber atom. Since that time much chemical work has been done both on this isotope and others which display the effect. It has now established itself as a very useful and extremely sensitive technique for providing specific chemical data on electron distributions and magnetic properties in a compound.