Nuclear resonance fluorescence

Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence (NRF) is a process where high-energy photons (like gamma rays) interact with an atomic nucleus, causing it to absorb the photon’s energy and become excited. The nucleus then quickly releases this excess energy by emitting a new photon at a specific energy corresponding to the nucleus’s energy levels. This process allows scientists to identify and study specific nuclei based on their unique energy signatures. NRF is useful for detecting and analyzing nuclear materials and understanding nuclear structure, with applications in security, scientific research, and materials characterization.