PAC Probes as Diffusion Tracers in Solids

Perturbed angular correlation (PAC) probe atoms have been used as tracers to study diffusion in solids. The method works for diffusion on a sublattice for which the point symmetry is noncubic and the electric field gradient (EFG) at the probe nucleus reorients in each jump. Such motion leads to relaxation of the nuclear quadrupole interaction. Precise values of the tracer jump frequency have been obtained from fits of measured PAC perturbation functions. Results obtained to date are reviewed for Cd tracer atoms in rare-earth indides such as LaIn3 that have the L1₂ crystal structure, for which each jump on the In-sublattice reorients the EFG by 90°. New results are presented for LaSn3 and prospects for future studies are outlined.