Moessbauer spectroscopic studies on spintronics-related materials

Moessbauer spectroscopy is a powerful experimental tool for the investigations on local electronic and vibrational properties of solids. On the other hand, the recently developing field of 'spintronics', where spins of conduction electrons play a key role for transport phenomena, is requiring to control the size and physical properties of materials in nanoscales. Using Moessbauer spectroscopy it becomes possible to investigate local magnetism and electron-spin polarization of materials, while can be important information for further development of spintronics. In this article, Moessbauer spectroscopic studies on spintronics-related materials in the early stage after the discovery of giant magnetoresistance effect are outlined briefly, and then recent studies on Heusler-alloy-based layered structures are introduced topically. (author)