The scattering of Mossbauer radiation by condensed matter

Abstract

Experimental and theoretical work on the scattering of Mossbauer y radiation by condensed matter is reviewed, covering the period from 1958, and the subject is presented as having features akin to those of x-ray diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering and Mossbauer absorption spectroscopy. An outline of theoretical work on coherence and recoil effects for both electronic and nuclear resonant scattering is given. This is followed by a review of experiments on electronic (Rayleigh) scattering covering thermal diffuse scattering in crystals, Debye-Waller factors, soft modes and critical scattering, diffusion phenomena and amorphous materials, and plastic and liquid crystals, and a review of experiments on nuclear resonant scattering covering coherence interference and diffraction, the crystallographic phase problem, magnetic and quadrupole Mossbauer diffraction, dynamic theory and multiple scattering, cooperative excitation, refractive index, time domain experiments, and experiments based on detection of the conversion electrons.

Application of semiconductor detector for recording the Rayleigh scattering of Mössbauer radiation

“…The RSMR method for studying the dynamics of atoms in a condensed phase was reviewed in the work [5].…”

“…Thus, the traditional Mössbauer spectroscopy is difficult to apply for the investigation of the dynamics of biomolecules and proteins. As a result, a new method based on the same Mössbauer effect but not requiring Mössbauer isotopes to be in the samples, the Rayleigh scattering of Mössbauer radiation (RSMR), has been developed and used [5][6][7][8][9][10]. In this method, the Möss-bauer gamma-radiation is scattered by the electron cloud of atoms of the investigated materials.…”

Condensed Matter Physics Using Nuclear Resonant Scattering

“…This measurement technique is similar to Mössbauer spectroscopy and is known as the Rayleigh scattering of Mössbauer radiation (RSMR) method. 138) The scattering of monochromatic -rays by the sample is modulated due to the motion of the atoms (molecules) in the sample, and the energy shift is analyzed using a reference absorber containing the resonant nuclide. It should be noted that, in contrast to the previously discussed method, this method does not require the use of a sample containing resonant nuclides.…”

Rayleigh Scattering of Mössbauer Radiation Method Used in Dynamics Studies of Condensed Matter

“…It means that there is an incoherent scattered radiation, with no change in energy, which does not appear in the scattering curves but has an important contribution to the nuclear resonance absorption. Usually the Rayleigh scattering is coherent but it could include an incoherent component [10]. The presence of the incoherent scattering is due to a lack for the correlation between the atomic motions.…”