Conversion electron Mössbauerspectroscopy with very low energy (0 to 15 eV) electrons

A very intensive peak of low energy electrons (≤15 eV) appears in the electron energy spectrum, measured by a high transmission magnetic spectrometer, if a negative voltage of more than about 20 volts is applied to the Mossbauer absorber. The MB-spectrum of enriched stainless steel, recorded with these electrons, shows a high resonance effect of about 700% with countrates of 103 sec−1, compared to 750% and 60 sec−1 at the K-edge. Two processes seem to be responsible with characteristic attenuation length of about 40 A and about 400 A. We conclude, that part of these electrons are produced directly by Mossbauer absorption and conversion, resulting in low energy Auger electron emission, showing a high surface sensitivity as well.