Instrumentation for Moessbauer spectroscopy

The indigenous efforts in instrumentation for Moessbauer spectroscopy are reviewed. After a brief recapitulation of early developments in this field, the current status is described. Instrumentation for Moessbauer spectroscopy involves various aspects such as, velocity transducer, preparation of the radioactive source in proper host matrix, gamma-ray detectors, electron detectors in the case of conversion electron Moessbauer spectroscopy, data acquisition system, temperature variation facility such as cryostats and furnaces, externally applied magnetic field, etc. While the review attempts to cover most of these aspects, the constituents of a basic modern Moessbauer spectrometer, viz. a constant accelerator Moessbauer drive, a top loading type liquid helium cryostat and an inexpensive microprocessor based data acquisition system are discussed in detail. Developments in personal computer based systems are also indicated. (author). 10 figs., 61 refs