Collective quantum physics is a fascinating discipline which seems to be very complex. The Mossbauer effect is explained as a consequence of a collective phenomenon which at a temperature close to absolute zero, keeps a lattice of atoms so tighten together that it is possible for a single nucleus belonging to what is called a Coherent domain, to emit gamma radiation without recoiling (recoilles nuclear resonance).
It seems that only G.A. Skorobogatov , B.E. Dzevitskii two Russian scientists of S.Petersburg university dealt with this evolution of the Mossbauer effect, coming out with the concept of polynuclear superradiance. The concept of superradiance was defined by Dicke in 1960s and referred to coherent radiation generation for LASERs.
Does the quantum background have an active role on this process?
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1012053100090
Stefano, it seems to me, the way you explain it and the way the Abstract of the article does, that the recoil is measured as (close to) zero, because the inertial mass of the lattice-bound polynucleus is in balance with the impulsion moment of the one sole emitting gamma ray. Expected was that only one nucleus would be involved, which should result in a measurable recoil.
Hence, this is then a pure kinematical issue, and a quantum background should not be involved.
Dear Thierry,
there is a quantum effect which allows a crystal, close to 0k, to react as a whole. The phenomenon is a collective one since it would be impossible for a nucleus not to recoil in presence of an emission of a gamma quantum. It is like stopping a train with our own hands without stepping back so much.
The electromagnetic bonds of the electrons would not able to face the momentum of their nucleus without allowing it to recoil, for two reasons:
a) they are very weak in comparison to the momentum generated at a huge distance from them, compared to the nuclear radius.
b) if the reaction of the crystal acts at the speed of light, it is impossible also the compensation of the other nuclei, since the time it takes for the pulse to reach the other nuclei is significative if we consider the amount of momentum which the nucleus has to face.
At 0K there is a quantum effect resposnible of two incredible facts:
a) the crystal reacts as a whole (as Mossbauer says) neutralizing the nuclear recoils (within the coherence domanins (109) atoms)
b) the nucleus are directly bound in a similar fashion as in the superconductivity where the electron pairs become bosons.
The only way to allow such phenomena to occur is to accept that the action at a distance takes place, or rather the speed of light is bypassed.
The involvement of the quantum background is clear: who is going to put in coherence the nuclei and allow the superluminal communication to occur?
Stefano, right, the phenomenon of the status of the crystal at near 0K is not explained, and as you suggest, the sole possible solution, as well as with the entanglement problem, is that the interaction between these particles must be at many times the conventional speed of light.
If you check the speed of the sound in materials (Wikipedia), you will find that the more the material is structured and "hard", the faster the speed of sound inside it. The differences are remarkable. The more the atoms are "inter-connected", the faster the speed of sound.
The same kind of phenomenon may be valid for the speed of light at the intra-nuclear level: at near 0K, there is no vibration any more and the structure of the atoms can be way more relaxed, hence (for an unknown reason) more entangled with the surrounding nuclei. This lattice may be the cause of a much higher internal communication speed.
For me, it was very clear since a while that the entanglement problem is solved that way. The Mössbauer effect of your reference paper may be perfectly solved the same way, at least partially.
This is a first bite of it
https://www.livescience.com/61013-lightning-radioactive-particle-accelerator.html?
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