Mössbauer effect at low T versus high T, making phonons.

[Spinnor]

We read that when a crystal used in the Mössbauer effect is cooled we enhance the odds of a nucleus emitting a gamma ray with no crystal phonons being produced. When the crystal is heated there are more phonons around then at lower temperatures. How does the presents of more phonons enhance the probability of an emitting nucleus to produce another phonon as opposed to just giving the crystal as a whole just translational energy?

Thanks for any help!

 

[DrDu]

That's the difference between spontaneous and stimulated emission. The probability, to create a phonon when there are already n present, is proportional n+1.

 

[Spinnor]

Ouch, that was simple! Thank you DrDu!