Mssbauer Effect Methodology

The continued growth of Mssbauer effect methodology, and its virtuosity in encompassing new elements and new applications, are amply illustrated by the contents of this volume. The degree of maturity of Mssbauer spectroscopy is attested to by the increasing reliance of chemists upon Mssbauer investigation as a primary tool to be conjirmed by more "conventional" measurements. An exciting development has been the use of neutron and Cou lomb excitation techniques to produce Mssbauer Ievels. This promises to Iead Mssbauer spectroscopy toward the very desirable "universal spectroscopy" category. The prospect of extending the technique to many elements which do not possess useful precursor radionuclides is exciting indeed. While attention is being focused primarily on spectroscopy and applications, methodology is not being neglected. Another generation of drive designs is being reported, and commercial spectrometers are becoming more reliable, more competitive, and offer a reasonable selection of features at a wide range in prices. Several of the equipment companies who participated in the Third Mssbauer Methodology Symposium demonstrated approaches to Mssbauer spectrometer design (e.g., Austin Science Associates and Linear Alpha Corpora tion-Elron). A unique, new, very high countrate acceptance system demonstrated by Austin Science Associates was developed entirely in response to the need of Mssbauer spectroscopists for data acquisition rates beyond existing proportional counting capabilities. The range of proportional detectors available and a simple, inexpen sive demonstration spectrometer were exhibited by Reuter-Stokes Electronic Components, Inc.