Mössbauer effect

American  

[maws-bou-er i-fekt, mos‐] / ˈmɔs baʊ ər ɪˌfɛkt, ˈmɒs‐ /

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.

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Mössbauer effect British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of Mössbauer effect

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