Two-dimensional data processing in Mössbauer spectroscopy

Mössbauer spectroscopy is a non-destructive, physical fine-analysis method used, for example, in biochemistry, solid state physics and geology. Rudolf Ludwig Mößbauer was a German physi- cist and discoverer of the Mössbauer Effect, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1961. With Mössbauer spectroscopy, a high-precision analysis of the binding conditions in iron is pos- sible. For this, the Mössbauer spectrometer MIMOS II was installed for the Mars missions on the rovers Spirit and Opportunity. MIMOS II was developed by Dr. Göstar Klingelhöfer (deceased on January 8th 2019, the picture on the left is from one of his many publications). With the evaluation of the data, indications of formerly existing water on Mars were found.

With the help of modern microcontroller technology a further optimization of the spectrometer MIMOS II is possible. This is done with a two-dimensional data acquisition, in which both, the relative velocity of the oscillating source and the energy of the detected photons, are stored together. Parameters for the investigations can be set after the measurement. Thus, several resonance lines can be examined in parallel and evaluated later. This provides depth-resolved information about the examined materials. The approach offers a completely new improvement of knowledge in the field of Mössbauer spectro- scopy.

The aim of the project is the further development of an existing fully functional prototype and the investigation of new application areas, e.g. examining material used for nanotechnology. This is a typical goal for research in applied sciences and arts.