Polarized Mossbauer study of particle orientation in magnetic recording tapes

Unpolarized Mossbauer study of particle orientation in magnetic recording tapes requires the measurements of the tape samples from different directions. This requirement may introduce appreciable saturation effects, and may, in some cases, lead to destruction of the tapes' original magnetization orientation. The authors present a more effective technique which uses polarized recoil-free gamma -rays to identify the particle orientations. Two examples of the application of the technique to gamma -Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ tapes with different particle orientations are discussed, with results conforming to those of magnetic measurements.<>