A new detection system with a microchannel plate for energy-selected conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy

A new measuring system using a microchannel plate and a retarding field analyzer has been introduced for use in energy-analyzed conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy. Mössbauer spectra of the thin surface layer of⁵⁷Fe-enriched 310 stainless steel foil were obtained by detecting scattered electrons with an energy of more than 7.0 keV. It was found that the geometries of the source, sample and the MCP were important; also, good shielding against γ-rays and X-rays was necessary in order to improve the S/N ratio.