Credit: Jason Richards/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Raphaël Hermann of Oak Ridge National Laboratory studies magnetic materials and batteries using Mössbauer spectroscopy, which precisely reveals displacement between a source of radiation made up of one specific element and a material containing that element. With great sensitivity, it detects tiny changes in energy levels as the source moves away from or toward the material—analogous to changes in a siren’s pitch indicating if an ambulance is approaching or retreating.