AN INVESTIGATION OF THE APPLICATION OF THE MOSS-BAUER EFFECT TO ACCELEROMETERS USED FOR INERTIAL NAVIGATION
Abstract
An analytical investigation of the application of the Mossbauer Effect to accelerometers is presented. T HE Mossbauer ffect is the emission and absorption of gamma photons without energy losses due to the recoil of the emitting and absorbing nuclei. Resonant absorption so obtained is sensitive to changes in photon energy of one par in 10 to the 12th power - 10 to the 15th power. Fundamental limitations in the application of this phenomenon are the need for statistical counting of photons and the uncertainty in the energy of the nuclear gamma decay. An order of magnitude analysis indica es that the isotope Fe(57), which has favorable characteristics such as a relatively high cross section for resonant absorption and a relatively high ratio of photon energy to uncertainty in photon energy (3 x 10 to the 12th power), is the best available isotope. The Mossbauer Effect is most sensitive to a shift in energy due to relative velocity between the source and absorber, allowing sensing of velocities of 1/100 - 1/100,000 cm/sec. Techniques are presented and nalyzed that use the latter phenomenon to mea ure angular and linear velocity and angular position of instrument components.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0286924
Entities
People
- Jack E. Hesse Jr.
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology