Resonant X-ray scattering from a rotating medium: The Nuclear Lighthouse Effect

A coherently excited nuclear state is carried with a rotating sample so that its radiative decay is redirected by the rotation angle that has developed during its lifetime. As a result, the time spectrum of the nuclear decay is mapped to an angular scale. This effect has been observed in nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation from a rotating ⁵⁷Fe metal foil. Applications with respect to elastic and inelastic nuclear resonant scattering are discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.