Vibrational energies from nuclear resonant scattering: Measurement and comparison with neutron inelastic scattering

Nickel and lead lattice-vibrational energies (including the zero-point energies) are deduced at 298 and 80 K from nuclear resonant scattering measurements. A comparison is made with recently compiled neutron inelastic scattering data. The agreement is of the order of 12%. We conclude that the technique of nuclear resonant scattering of rays can be confidently used to obtain vibrational energies of specific atoms in various compounds. This type of information cannot presently be obtained from neutron inelastic scattering or any other experimental method.