Moessbauer effect study of the isomeric de-excitation in 119Snm

As with the k-capture, γ-emission decay of 57Co, the chemical consequences of the isomeric decay of 119Snm can be investigated by the techniques of Moessbauer spectroscopy. The de-excitation of the 245-d 11/2-state occurs by the emission of 65.3-keV (M4) and 23.8-keV (M1-E2) γ-radiation in cascade. Three major chemical effects of nuclear transformations that can be investigated by Moessbauer techniques are: (a) consequences of the 118Sn(n, γ)119Snm process and effects of the concomitant γ-radiation during pile exposure; (b) recoil effects accompanying the M4 decay; and (c) effects of internal conversion of the M4 decay. These effects have been studied in stannic oxide metallic (grey) tin, and tetraphenyl tin, each labelled with the nuclide 119Sn111