On the possibility of a new phase-determining method applying the Mössbauer effect

Summary

When softγ-rays are emitted without recoil, the radiation emitted has a considerable fraction contained within the natural line-width. This part of the radiation is expected to be partially coherent with the incidentγ-rays and so with the Rayleigh scattered component. Under these conditions the total scattering amplitude will be a sum of the Rayleigh and Resonance amplitudes. This coherent addition leads to an enhancement of the intensities of Bragg reflections from the crystal. Since the total amplitude is complex, the intensities of inverse reflections will be unequal. It is suggested that this possibility be utilised, as in the similar case of anomalous dispersion of X-rays, for determining the phase constants as also the absolute configuration of crystals. Practical limitations are discussed.