Mössbauer spectroscopy - an indispensable tool in solid state research

Abstract

First paragraph: More than 50 years ago, the German physicist Rudolf L. Mössbauer, whilst working on his doctoral thesis under Professor Maier-Leibnitz at the Technical University in Munich and at the Max-Planck Institute in Heidelberg, discovered the recoilless nuclear resonance absorption of gamma rays which became known as the Mössbauer Effect. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1961 as one of the youngest recipients of this most prestigious award. The phenomenon rapidly developed to a new spectroscopic technique, which now bears Rudolf Mössbauer's name. Mössbauer spectroscopy has made valuable contributions to widespread applications in solid state research, from fundamental studies in physics, chemistry, metallurgy, biological- and geo-sciences as well as to industrial and materials science applications. Figure 1 gives an overview of applications of Mössbauer spectroscopy in various research disciplines.