Rudolf Mössbauer
Facts
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Rudolf Ludwig Mössbauer
The Nobel Prize in Physics 1961
Born: 31 January 1929, Munich, Germany
Died: 14 September 2011
Affiliation at the time of the award: Technical University, Munich, Germany; California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA, USA
Prize motivation: “for his researches concerning the resonance absorption of gamma radiation and his discovery in this connection of the effect which bears his name”
Prize share: 1/2
Work
According to the principles of quantum physics, the atomic nucleus and surrounding electrons can have only fixed energy levels. When there are transitions among energy levels in the atomic nucleus, high-energy photons known as gamma rays are emitted and absorbed. In a gas a recoil effect occurs when an atom emits a photon. In 1958 Rudolf Mössbauer discovered that the recoil can be eliminated if the atoms are embedded in a crystal structure. This opened up opportunities to study energy levels in atomic nuclei and how these are affected by their surroundings and various phenomena.
Nobel Prizes and laureates
Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The 12 laureates' work and discoveries range from proteins' structures and machine learning to fighting for a world free of nuclear weapons.
See them all presented here.
