Mössbauer-Zeeman spectroscopy using nuclear ground states dressed with RF photons

As part of our general programme to develop the field of quantum nucleonics, we have studied Mössbauer spectroscopy when there is Zeeman splitting of the nuclear levels and a further interaction due to an applied rf-radiation field. We have applied the `dressed' state concept, developed in quantum electronics, to this situation. In particular, we have studied the case when the rf frequency is in the neighbourhood of the ground state (spin =1/2) splitting. The dressed-state approach in this case treats the coupling of nuclear Zeeman levels, due to an rf field, by considering the total system made up of nucleus, static magnetic field and rf field as one global quantum system. This allows the time evolution of the system to be handled straightforwardly. The energy levels and corresponding eigenstates of the system are calculated as a function of the rf frequency and the magnitude of the rf magnetic flux density. Mössbauer spectra are calculated for the case in which the source is subjected to both the static and radiation fields while the absorber nuclear levels are unsplit. Spectra are given as a function of the rf frequency, the magnitude of rf-field magnetic flux density, as well as the photon direction.