Exploring solid state physics properties with radioactive isotopes

Radioactive atoms have been used in solid state physics for many years. Established nuclear techniques such as MoBbauer spectroscopy, perturbed angular correlation, beta-NMR and emission channelling have now been joined by new and successful tracer techniques like radioactive deep level transient spectroscopy, capacitance voltage measurements, Hall-effect measurements or photoluminescence spectroscopy. Numerous radioactive species, ranging from 8Li to 213Fr, are employed to attack problems involved with defects or impurities in metals, semiconductors and superconductors. This paper aims to give an idea of the potential of modern ʹradioactive solid state physicsʹ by briefly explaining the techniques used and describing some typical experiments.