Mössbauer effect

[ maws-bou-er i-fekt, mos‐ ]

noun

, Physics.

1. the phenomenon in which an atom in a crystal undergoes no recoil when emitting a gamma ray, giving all the emitted energy to the gamma ray, resulting in a sharply defined wavelength.

Mössbauer effect

/ ˈmœsbauər; ˈmɒsˌbaʊə /

noun

1. physics the phenomenon in which an atomic nucleus in a crystal of certain substances emits a gamma ray without any recoil to the atom. The study of the emitted gamma rays ( Mössbauer spectroscopy ) is used to determine the energy levels in a nucleus, the structure of molecules, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mössbauer effect¹

1955–60; named after R. Mössbauer ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mössbauer effect¹

C20: named after Rudolf Ludwig Mössbauer (1929–2011), German physicist