Contents

1 Theory 1
1.1 Resonant Absorption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Mößbauer effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.3 Resonant Absorption Spectroscopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4 Broadening of the line width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4.1 Hyperfine splitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4.2 quadrupole splitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.4.3 Isometric shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 Experiment 5
2.1 Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 57 Fe measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2.1 Magnetic field splitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2.2 life time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2.3 isometry shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.3 FeP04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.3.1 life time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3.2 isometry shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3.3 Quadrupole splitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.4 FeS04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.4.1 life time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.4.2 isometry shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.4.3 Quadrupole splitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.5 Vacronium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.5.1 life time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.5.2 isometry shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
List of Figures

2.1 Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 Data 57 Fe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.3 Data FePO4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.4 Data FeSO4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.5 Data Vacronium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1. Theory

1.1 Resonant Absorption

To experimentally detect the Mößbauereffekt a trick is needed since the natural line width
is too small to be detected even with high resolution interferometers. That is why resonant
absorption spectroscopy is used.
Resonante absorption describes a process, where a photon is emitted through relaxation
of an excited nuclei state to the ground state and afterwards is reabsorbed by a nucleus
of the same type and in term excites the same excited state the emitter nucleus was in.
This can only occur if the natural line width 0 is greater than the energy shift due to the
emitting of the photon. For emission the energy shift is given by

p2γ p2
Eγ = Ee − Eg − := E0 − γ (1.1)
2M 2M

with M the nucleus mass, γ the photon momentum and Ee (Eg ) the energy of the excited
(ground) state. For the absorption the energy shift looks similar, but the photon causes
the excitation energy E0 to be shifted higher:

p2γ
Eγ = E0 + . (1.2)
2M
Nuclei transitions usually have a line width smaller than the relative line shift due to the
photon emission and absorption. This means for stationary nuclei a resonant absorption
would not be possible but the movement of the nuclei due to thermal excitation causes the
line to widen. The maximum shift caused by this effect is given by

p2γ pγ · P
Eγ = E0 − ± (1.3)
2M M
where P is the momentum of the nucleus. Therefore resonant absorption is possible for
nucleus transition.

1.2 Mößbauer effect

The Mößbauer effect occurs for atoms in a crystal lattice. In the lattice the binding energy
of the lattice is finite, but much larger than the energy of emitting a photon. The total
energy in the crystal is given by the sum of all possible phonon excitation with frequency
Ωi
3N
1
X  
Ecrystal = ℏΩi · ni + (1.4)
i=0
2

1
2 P4 Quantum-Hall-effect

where N is the number of lattice points, ni can have an integer value and is the amount of
phonons with frequency Ωi . The energy shift when a phonon is created or annihilated is
given by:
3N
ℏΩi (n′i − ni )
X
∆Ek = EK ′ − EK = (1.5)
i=0

. If one of the nuclei emits a γ its energy is given by

Eγ = E0 − ∆EK (1.6)

This means the emission spectrum is continuos as ∆EK is smaller than the natural line
width. If a photon is emitted without recoil during emission nor absorption it only exhibits
the natural line width. That this occurs nautrally was detected by Mößbauer and the effect
was named in his honor. The continuous spectrum shows a sharp and large peak with
natural line width of the transition. This peak is named Mößbauer line. The Mößbauer
line is not symmetric in the spectrum as it is more likely for phonons to be created than
it is for them to be annihilated. Mößbauer effect is strongy visible if the recoil energy of
the photon is small compared to the lattice energy. The relative probability of recoil free
absorption and emission can be calculated with the help of debye model. It dpends on the
temperature T and material constants
 
−p2γ 3 2 ˙  T 2
#
2π
f (T ) = exp − [1 + ·  (1.7)
2M 2kB Θ 3 Θ

where Θ is the material dependent Debye temperature. For materials with high Debye
temperature and therefore high lattice energy the Mößbauer effect is also visible at room
temperature.

1.3 Resonant Absorption Spectroscopy

For resonant absorption spectroscopy a γ-quantum emitted by a known source is sent
through an absorbing probe and the transmission rate is measured. Assuming the resonance
condition for absorption is Eresonance = E0 when the source and absorber are stationary
relative to each other, the line width can be determined. This is done by plotting the
transmission rate over relative velocity of absorber and emitter. Through motion relative
to each other the energy of the γ-quantum is shifted due to the doppler effect. Thus the
resonance condition is only met for a vanishing relative velocity v = 0. If the relative velocity
deviates from zero absorption is less likely and therefore more γ quanta are transmitted.
Thus the dip in the recorded spectrum is equal to two times the natural line width.

1.4 Broadening of the line width

Multiple effects broaden the natural line width of the Mößbauer transition. Which will be
discussed in the following.

1.4.1 Hyperfine splitting

Magnetic field present in the nucleus caused for example by moving electrons of the atom
can cause a Zeeman-splitting of both the excited and ground state. This is only possible
for nuclei spin I ̸= 0. The energy splitting is given by

∆Emagnetic = −⃗ ⃗ = −m · µ · B
µ·B (1.8)
I
Chapter 1. Theory 3

with m the magnetic quantum number ranging from −I to I in integer steps. The resulting
γ-energy is the difference between the excited and ground state and therefore:
!
−me −mg
Eγ = E0 − · µe + · µg ·B (1.9)
Ie Ig

As the emission of a photon is limited by the dipol transition rules only

∆m = me − mg = 0, ±1 (1.10)

is possible. In the experiment 57 Fe is used. It has a high magnetic field at the nucleus. To
make evaluation easier the emitter is embedded in a non magnetic crystal and therefore
exhibits no zeeman splitting, while the absorber is pure 57 Fe and has hyperfine splitting. As
the magnetic moment µ of the ground state is determined through other experiments and
both the spin number of the ground state Ig = 12 and excited state Ie = 32 are known the
resonance condition for the transition can be determined. 57 Fe has six possible transitions
wich occure at a relative velocity of
′
E0 − E0 me µe B · c mg µg B · c
v= ·c− + := I + E + G (1.11)
Eo Ie · Eo Ig Ėo

Through this I, E, G can be derived which in term lead to the magnetic moment of the
excited state and the magnetic field present in the nucleus.

1.4.2 quadrupole splitting

Nuclei with I ̸= 0 can have asymmetric charge distribution which leads to a quadrupole
moment Q. In a electric field with a gradient couples to the quadrupole moment and causes
the energy level to split. The electric gradient field is caused by the electron distribution
in the atomic shells of the atom. The quadrupole energy for a lattice with preferential
direction z is given by
!
e·Q ∂2V 3 · m2 − I(I + 1)
∆EQ (m) = · (1.12)
4 ∂z 2 3 · I 2 − I(I + 1)

where V is the potential of the electric field, e the elementary charge, m the magnetic
quantum number of the nucleus and I the nucleon spin. quadrupole splitting occurs only
for I > 1 and thus only in the excited state of 57 Fe whre Ie = 32 . Since the energy difference
is proportional to m2 the excited state is split twice not for times as was the case for
hyperfine splitting
!
3 +eQ ∂2V
 
∆EQ ± = (1.13)
2 4 ∂z 2

!
1 −eQ ∂2V
 
∆EQ ± = (1.14)
2 4 ∂z 2

This effect is visible as two lines in the resonant absorption spectroscopy with a relative
velocity of
!
3 1 −eQ ∂2V c
   
∆vQ = vQ ± − vQ ± = · (1.15)
2 2 2 ∂z 2 E0
4 P4 Quantum-Hall-effect

1.4.3 Isometric shift

Another effect shifting the natural line width is caused by the interaction between electron
shell and nucleus. For a nucleus that is not dot like but has a charge distribution the energy
of nucleus states is shifted by:
2π 2
∆Eiso (R) = e |Ψ(0)|2 Z R̄2 (1.16)
3

with e |Ψ(0)|2 the charge distribution of shell electrons at the nucleus, Z · e the nucleus
charge and R̄ the mean radius of the nucleus. As R̄ is different for the excited state than
the ground state the photon energy is shifted by:

∆Eγ,iso = E0 + ∆Eiso (Re ) − ∆Eiso (Rg ) (1.17)

This has no effect on the Mößbauer spectroscopy as for both the absorber and source
are effected in the same way, but should the charge distr,ibution e |Ψ(0)|2 of source and
absorber be different the velocity dip is shifted by:

2πe3    2 
∆viso = Z |Ψe (0)|2 − |Ψg (0)|2 · R̄e − R̄g2 (1.18)
3E0
2. Experiment

2.1 Calibration
At first the setup is calibrated by assigning the different channels of the measuring device its
corresponding velocity of the probe. This is done by measuring the amount of bright-dark
oscillations. As this only depends on the absolute velocity, some of the measured points
must be mirrored along the x-axis in order to have the correct velocity. Each measurement
contains two complete velocity sweeps. For both a linear slope is fitted, which can be seen
in figure 2.1. The results of the linear fit are shown in table 2.1. Hence forth they will be
referred to as sweep up and sweep down. The velocity v depends linearly on the amount of
bright-dark oscillations N
N mm
v = 325 · (2.1)
B·Z s
where B · Z is recorded automatically in the second channel by the measuring device and
N is given by the equation
N = a · (n − n0 ), (2.2)

where a is the slope of the fitted linear function and n0 is the channel number where the
line intersects the x-axis.
The energy difference to E0 = 14.4 keV is given by:
v
∆E = E0 · (2.3)
c
where c is velocity of light in vacuum.

Figure 2.1: Fitted velocity sweeps for the calibration

57
2.2 Fe measurement
For this measurement the Mößbauer-effect for 57 Fe is recorded during the ramp up and
down. The transmission spectrum shows six dips each, which are determined by fitting
Lorentz-peaks onto the data. This is shown in figure 2.2.
The mean position and widths including their errors are shown in table 2.3 and 2.2.

5
6 P4 Quantum-Hall-effect

Table 2.1: calibration measurement for converting channels to velocity

sweep y-intersect slope a
up −22173 ± 0.281 28.814 ± 0.098
down 7414 ± 0.239 −28.793 ± 0.107

Figure 2.2: Data measured during the ramp down and ramp up for 57 Fe plotted together
with the fitted Lorenz-peaks.

mean in mm/s error mean in mm/s width in mm/s error width in mm/s
-5.732 0.0001542 0.3333 0.0004544
-3.326 0.0001709 0.3079 0.0004969
-0.9635 0.0002213 0.2019 0.0006339
0.7811 0.0002455 0.3278 0.0007125
3.205 0.0001871 0.3012 0.0005433
5.628 0.0001768 0.3893 0.0005233
57
Table 2.2: Fitted Lorenz-peaks for the ramp down up Fe

mean in mm/s error mean in mm/s width in mm/s error width in mm/s
5.652 0.0001859 -0.415 0.0005514
3.194 0.000192 -0.3229 0.0005581
0.8172 0.0003294 0.3329 0.000956
-0.9867 0.0001947 0.2043 0.0005616
-3.361 0.0001806 -0.3037 0.0005246
-5.694 0.0001836 -0.3665 0.0005422
57
Table 2.3: Fitted Lorenz-peaks for the ramp down for Fe

2.2.1 Magnetic field splitting

The hyperfine splitting can be used to determine the inner magnetic field and magnetic
moment of the excited state as describes in chapter 1.4.1. As written before there are four
Chapter 2. Experiment 7

possible cases. Therefore it is first checked which of the possibilities is actually recorded.
Therefore the corrected positive velocities are determined by calculating the mean value
of the absolute numbers of the outer values for v1 , the next inner ones for v2 and the tho
inner values for v3 . The calculated values can be seen in table 2.4.

Velocity vi up in mm/s down in mm/s

v1 5.6281 5.6520
v2 3.2048 3.1937
v3 0.7811 0.8172

Table 2.4: Corrected positive velocities vi

The four cases are shown in table 2.5.For both measurements the condition

v1 − 2v2 + v3 = 0 (2.4)

fits best.

Spectrum Condition up in mm/s down in mm/s

v1 − 2v2 − v3 -11.26 -11.22
v1 − 2v2 + v3 -4.442 ·10−4 8.183·10−2
v1 − v2 − 2v3 -13.68 -13.68
−v1 + v2 + 2v3 13.68 13.68

Table 2.5: Comparing the four different spectrum conditions

This leads to A = v1 − v2 and G = −v2 − v3 . With the relations

µe Bc
A= (2.5)
Ie E0

and
µG Bc
G= (2.6)
Ig E0
where µe is the magnetic moment of the excited state, µg is the magnetic moment of the
ground state, B the inner magnetic field, Ii the quantum number of respective nucleus
spin and E0 the energy of the ground state. The magnetic moment of the ground state is
known to be µg = 0.0903µk with µk being the nuclear magneton. Using Ig = 12 and Ie = 32
and E0 = 14400 eV, the inner magnetic field can be determined followed by the magnetic
moment. Results of which can be found in table 2.6.

ramp up or down magnetic field B in T magnetic moment µe in eV/T

up -74.53 2.342 ·10−9
down -74.63 2.293 ·10−9
average -74.58 2.3175·10−9

Table 2.6: Results for the magnetic field and magnetic moment

2.2.2 life time

The lifetime can be directly calculated from the width Γ0 of the lorentz peaks using

ℏ
τ= (2.7)
Γ0
8 P4 Quantum-Hall-effect

Using this equation and the data from table 2.3 and 2.2 for the width of the peaks one can
calculate the mean life time for the up and down ramp:

τdown = (2.658 ± 0.064) · 10−07 s (2.8)

−07
τup = (2.778 ± 0.092) · 10 s (2.9)

2.2.3 isometry shift

All energy levels are shifted by a constant value. This can be calculated by calculating the
mean velocity and using equation 2.3 to determine the isometric shift for the ramp up and
the down. Calculating the mean value gives us

∆E = (3.147 ± 0.105) · 10−09 eV (2.10)

2.3 FeP04

Here isometry shift, lifetime and quadrupol splitting is determined just as before. Here
quadrupole splitting is causing the second peak again.
The data from the measurement is shown in figure 2.3.

Figure 2.3: Data measured during the ramp down and ramp up for FePO4 plotted
together with the fitted Lorenz-peaks.

Again, the mean position and widths including their errors are shown in table 2.3 and 2.2.

mean in mm/s error mean in mm/s width in mm/s error width in mm/s
-0.04817 0.000231 0.5596 0.0004883
0.5299 0.000347 0.5608 0.0004516

Table 2.7: Fitted Lorenz-peaks for the ramp down up FePO4

Chapter 2. Experiment 9

mean in mm/s error mean in mm/s width in mm/s error width in mm/s
0.7221 0.000562 0.4746 0.0003403
-0 0.000251 0.4693 0.0003269

Table 2.8: Fitted Lorenz-peaks for the ramp down for FePO4

2.3.1 life time

Using the width Γ0 of the Lorentz peaks and

ℏ
τ= (2.11)
Γ0

one can determine the life time

τdown = (1.826 ± 0.052) · 10−07 s (2.12)

−07
τup = (1.538 ± 0.047) · 10 s (2.13)

2.3.2 isometry shift

As before we can calculate the isometric shift

∆E = (1.473 ± 0.098) · 10−8 eV. (2.14)

2.3.3 Quadrupole splitting

Due to asymmetric charge distribution, FePO4 has a quadrupole moment Q. The latter
2
can be quantified by an electric field gradient ∂∂zV2 in direction z and can be calculated with

∂2V 2E0 3 1
    
= vQ ± − vQ ± , (2.15)
∂z 2 eQc 2 2
   
whereas vQ ± 21 and vQ ± 32 each represent a state with the quantum numbers ±1/2
and ±3/2. These values are already evaluated in tabele 2.8 and 2.7. Using E0 = 14400
eV and Q = 0.21 · 10−28 m2 the electric field gradient can be calculated. The results are
shown in

ramp up or down electric field gradient in V/m2

up (2.643 ±0.0033) · 1021
down (3.301 ±0.0028) · 1021
average (2.972 ±0.0031) · 1021

Table 2.9: Results for the electrical field gradient for FePO4

2.4 FeS04

Here ,the isometry shift and lifetime is determined just as before. Additionally the
quadrupole splitting, causing the second peak, will be determined.
The data from the measurement is shown in figure 2.4.
Again, the mean position and widths including their errors are shown in table 2.11 and
2.10.
10 P4 Quantum-Hall-effect

Figure 2.4: Data measured during the ramp down and ramp up for FeSO4 plotted
together with the fitted Lorenz-peaks.

mean in mm/s error mean in mm/s width in mm/s error width in mm/s
-0.289 0.0001729 0.2939 0.0001289
2.698 0.0007297 -0.275 0.0001254

Table 2.10: Fitted Lorenz-peaks for the ramp down up FeSO4

mean in mm/s error mean in mm/s width in mm/s error width in mm/s
2.551 0.0007118 0.2895 0.0001346
-0.1444 0.0001562 0.3246 0.0001396

Table 2.11: Fitted Lorenz-peaks for the ramp down for FeSO4

2.4.1 life time

Using the width Γ0 of the Lorentz peaks and
ℏ
τ= (2.16)
Γ0
one can determine the life time
τdown = (2.806 ± 0.034) · 10−07 s (2.17)
−07
τup = (3.029 ± 0.018) · 10 s (2.18)

2.4.2 isometry shift

As before we can calculate the isometric shift
∆E = (5.779 ± 0.092) · 10−8 eV. (2.19)

2.4.3 Quadrupole splitting

As before we can also calculate the electric field gradient of the quadrupole splitting, which
can be seen in table 2.12
Chapter 2. Experiment 11

ramp up or down electric field gradient in V/m2

up (1.365 ±0.0027) · 1022
down (1.232 ±0.0075) · 1022
average (1.2985 ±0.0051) · 1022

Table 2.12: Results for the electrical field gradient for FeSO4

2.5 Vacronium
The spectrum for Vacronium only has one peak, hence only lifetime and isometry shift will
be determined.
The data from the measurement is shown in figure 2.5.

Figure 2.5: Data measured during the ramp down and ramp up for Vacronium plotted
together with the fitted Lorenz-peaks.

Again, the mean position and widths including their errors are shown in table 2.14 and
2.13.
mean in mm/s error mean in mm/s width in mm/s error width in mm/s
-0.289 0.000718 0.4184 0.0003035

Table 2.13: Fitted Lorenz-peaks for the ramp down up Vacronium

mean in mm/s error mean in mm/s width in mm/s error width in mm/s
-0.09628 0.0001682 0.3995 0.0002982

Table 2.14: Fitted Lorenz-peaks for the ramp down for Vacronium

2.5.1 life time

Using the width Γ0 of the Lorentz peaks and
ℏ
τ= (2.20)
Γ0
12 P4 Quantum-Hall-effect

one can determine the life time

τdown = (2.157 ± 0.045) · 10−07 s (2.21)

−07
τup = (2.059 ± 0.064) · 10 s (2.22)

2.5.2 isometry shift

As before we can calculate the isometric shift

∆E = (1.034 ± 0.091) · 10−8 eV. (2.23)