Mössbauer spectroscopy in ferromagnetic metal surfaces

Mössbauer experiments were made utilizing Co
⁵⁷
or Fe
⁵⁷
as a microprobe for studying the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic metal surfaces. For the emission spectroscopy, carrier-free Co
⁵⁷
atoms were electrodeposited on a surface of bulk iron. The absorption spectroscopy was applied to a sample whose surface was selectively enriched with Fe
⁵⁷
. In both cases, the spectra at 4.2 K showed that all iron atoms in the surface are ferromagnetic, but the reduced hyperfine field suggests a partial decrease of the local magnetic moment.