DOCSLIB.ORG

Bremsstrahlung in Α Decay Reexamined

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Bremsstrahlung in Α Decay Reexamined Missouri University of Science and Technology Scholars' Mine Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works Physics 01 Jul 2007 Bremsstrahlung in α decay reexamined H. Boie Heiko Scheit Ulrich D. Jentschura Missouri University of Science and Technology, [email protected] F. Kock et. al. For a complete list of authors, see https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/phys_facwork/838 Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/phys_facwork Part of the Physics Commons Recommended Citation H. Boie et al., "Bremsstrahlung in α decay reexamined," Physical Review Letters, vol. 99, no. 2, pp. 022505-1-022505-4, American Physical Society (APS), Jul 2007. The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.022505 This Article - Journal is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars' Mine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works by an authorized administrator of Scholars' Mine. This work is protected by U. S. Copyright Law. Unauthorized use including reproduction for redistribution requires the permission of the copyright holder. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS week ending PRL 99, 022505 (2007) 13 JULY 2007 Bremsstrahlung in Decay Reexamined H. Boie,1 H. Scheit,1 U. D. Jentschura,1 F. Ko¨ck,1 M. Lauer,1 A. I. Milstein,2 I. S. Terekhov,2 and D. Schwalm1,* 1Max-Planck-Institut fu¨r Kernphysik, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany 2Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia (Received 29 March 2007; published 13 July 2007) A high-statistics measurement of bremsstrahlung emitted in the decay of 210Po has been performed, which allows us to follow the photon spectra up to energies of 500 keV. The measured differential emission probability is in good agreement with our theoretical results obtained within the quasiclassical approximation as well as with the exact quantum mechanical calculation. It is shown that, due to the small effective electric dipole charge of the radiating system, a significant interference between the electric dipole and quadrupole contributions occurs, which is altering substantially the angular correlation between the particle and the emitted photon. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.022505 PACS numbers: 23.60.+e, 27.80.+w, 41.60.ÿm The decay of an atomic nucleus is the archetypal between the electric dipole and quadrupole amplitudes, quantum mechanical process, and so is the bremsstrahlung which we derived within the framework of a refined qua- accompanied decay. It is therefore somewhat surprising siclassical approximation [11], we find good agreement of that only ten years ago the first fully quantum mechanical our measured emission probabilities with those calcu- calculation of the latter process was performed, using first- lated in our quasiclassical approach as well as with the order perturbation theory and the dipole approximation for quantum mechanical prediction of Ref. [1]. the photon field [1]. On the other hand, it is known that the The main experimental challenge is the very low emis- decay of a heavy nucleus and the radiation that accom- sion rate for bremsstrahlung photons. Even with a rather panies this decay can be treated in the quasiclassical ap- strong source of 105 decays=s the emission rate is only proximation as well; the applicability of this approxi- of the order of one per day in the 300–400 keV energy mation being provided by the large value of the Sommer- range; i.e., in only one out of 1010 decays a photon with feld parameter [2,3], which amounts to, e.g., 22 for an energy within that range will be emitted. Only by the decay of 210Po. In all theoretical approaches the measuring the particles in coincidence with the brems- matrix element of bremsstrahlung incorporates contribu- strahlung photons and by identifying the bremsstrahlung tions of the classically allowed and classically forbidden photons by requiring energy balance between the energy (tunneling) region. The relative contribution of the tunnel- and the photon one can therefore hope to sufficiently ing region is not small in general and can be interpreted as suppress randoms due to the copious room background. bremsstrahlung at tunneling. However, such an interpreta- After a careful evaluation of possible emitters, 210Po, tion can only have a restricted meaning as the wavelength already used in the work of Ref. [9], was felt to be the most of the photon is much larger than the width of the tunneling promising choice for such a measurement. It decays with a region and even larger than the main classical acceleration half-life of t1=2 138 days mainly to the ground state of 206 region; it is therefore not possible to identify experimen- the stable daughter nuclide Pb (Q 5:407 MeV), with tally the region where the photon was emitted. Never- only a small fraction of 1:22 410ÿ5 proceeding theless, the issue of tunneling during the emission process through the first exited J 2 state at an excitation was widely discussed [1–7]. The authors used different energy of 803 keV [12]. While no other rays are emitted theoretical approaches leading to partly conflicting con- by the source, the weak 803 keV branch constitutes a clusions as to the contribution of the tunneling process to convenient calibration point for the overall detection effi- the bremsstrahlung, but—more seriously—also with re- ciency reached in the experiment. gard to the energy dependent emission probabilities. The experimental setup used in the present work is While the theoretical interest in the bremsstrahlung shown in Fig. 1.Two210Po sources are placed at the accompanied decay was stirred up by an experiment bottom of a common vacuum chamber and are viewed by published in 1994 [8], this and later experimental attempts two segmented silicon detectors, each placed about 30 mm [9,10] to observe these rare decays produced conflicting above the source to measure the energy of the particles. results and did not reach the sensitivity to allow for a Directly below the center of the vacuum chamber an serious test of the various theoretical predictions concern- efficient high-purity germanium triple cluster detector of ing the emission probabilities for energies above E the MINIBALL design [13] was placed to record the emitted 200 keV. In this Letter we report on the first high-statistics bremsstrahlung photons. measurement of bremsstrahlung in the decay of 210Po, The source material was evenly spread on two 0.2 mm where we have been able to observe the photon spectra up thick circular Ni foils with a diameter of 16 mm, which to E 500 keV. Taking into account the interference were mounted on aluminum disks of 0.5 mm thickness 0031-9007=07=99(2)=022505(4) 022505-1 © 2007 The American Physical Society PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS week ending PRL 99, 022505 (2007) 13 JULY 2007 Aluminum Silicon strip In view of the dispersed source and the close source- vacuum chamber detectors detector geometry, detailed simulations of the experimen- tal setup were performed to determine the response func- 210 copper plate Po sources tion of the cluster detector as well as the detection effi- o cooled to -20 C ciency of the setup as a function of E and of the angle # between the direction of the particle and the bremsstrah- steel lamellae Germanium cluster lung quanta [14]. The simulated absolute full-energy detector peak efficiencies were compared to measurements per- formed with radioactive sources and to the result deduced 210 5 cm from the 803 keV branch of the Po decay; their accu- racies were found to be better than 4% for energies above 200 keV but to deteriorate slightly up to 9% at 100 keV. FIG. 1 (color online). Cross section of the experimental setup. The absolute full-energy peak efficiency at 803 keV was determined to be 8.09(26)% for isotropic emission. each. By distributing the source material the energy loss In order to reach the necessary sensitivity the experiment in the material was minimized; moreover, sputtering of had to be kept in a stable running condition for many source material due to the recoil of a nearby decay months. The analyzed data actually correspond to was avoided. The areal uniformity of the activity 270 days of data taking with a total of 4:3 1011 5 (10 decays=s per source) within the active area of the particles being recorded. At the same time about 6 109 source was tested by autoradiography; no intensity varia- rays have been detected out of which, e.g., only about tions could be discerned. 150 are expected to be due to bremsstrahlung events in the 2 The particles were detected by two 5 5cm silicon energy region above 300 keV. detectors, which were electrically segmented into 16 strips The - coincidence matrix displaying the measured each. The particles were incident on the unsegmented particle energy versus the -ray energy is shown in Fig. 2. side of the detector in order to avoid events with incom- The upper horizontal band corresponds to particles, plete charge collection occurring in the interstrip region. 0 which were detected with their full energy of E Both detectors were mounted on a copper plate cooled to 5304 keV in random coincidence with a background pho- ÿ20 C to improve the energy resolution and to reduce ton. The lower horizontal band terminating at 803 keV damage of the Si detectors due to the implanted particles -ray energy is caused by the response of the Ge detector 10 2 (about 10 =cm at the end of experiment). The energy to the 803 keV rays, emitted in coincidence with resolution was on the order of 30–35 keV (FWHM) and particles of 4517 keV leading to the first excited state of deteriorated only for a few strips up to 45 keVat the end of 206Pb.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Arxiv:2104.05705V3 [Gr-Qc] 11 May 2021
    Bremsstrahlung of Light through Spontaneous Emission of Gravitational Waves Charles H.-T. Wang and Melania Mieczkowska Department of Physics, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, United Kingdom 11 May 2021 Published in the Special Issue of Symmetry: New Frontiers in Quantum Gravity Abstract Zero-point fluctuations are a universal consequence of quantum theory. Vacuum fluctuations of electro- magnetic field have provided crucial evidence and guidance for QED as a successful quantum field theory with a defining gauge symmetry through the Lamb shift, Casimir effect, and spontaneous emission. In an accelerated frame, the thermalisation of the zero-point electromagnetic field gives rise to the Unruh effect linked to the Hawking effect of a black hole via the equivalence principle. This principle is the basis of general covariance, the symmetry of general relativity as the classical theory of gravity. If quantum gravity exists, the quantum vacuum fluctuations of the gravitational field should also lead to the quantum deco- herence and dissertation of general forms of energy and matter. Here we present a novel theoretical effect involving the spontaneous emission of soft gravitons by photons as they bend around a heavy mass and dis- cuss its observational prospects. Our analytic and numerical investigations suggest that the gravitational bending of starlight predicted by classical general relativity should also be accompanied by the emission of gravitational waves. This in turn redshifts the light causing a loss of its energy somewhat analogous to the bremsstrahlung of electrons by a heavier charged particle. It is suggested that this new effect may be important for a combined astronomical source of intense gravity and high-frequency radiation such as X-ray binaries and that the proposed LISA mission may be potentially sensitive to the resulting sub-Hz stochastic gravitational waves.
    [Show full text]
  • Dose Measurements of Bremsstrahlung-Produced Neutrons at the Advanced Photon Source
    ANL/APS/LS-269 Dose Measurements of Bremsstrahlung-Produced Neutrons at the Advanced Photon Source by M. Pisharody, E. Semones, and P. K. Job August 1998 Advanced Photon Source Argonne National Laboratory operated by The University of Chicago for the US Department of Energy under Contract W-31-I09-Eng-38 Argonne National Laboratory, with facilities in the states of Illinois and Idaho, is owned by the United States government, and operated by The University of Chicago under the provisions of a contract with the Department of Energy. DISCLAIMER- This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or pro- cess disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessanly constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessanly state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Reproduced from the best available copy Available to DOE and DOE contractors from the Office of Scientific and Technical Information P.O. Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 Prices available from (4231 576-8401 Available to the public from the National Technical Information Service U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • The Basic Interactions Between Photons and Charged Particles With
    Outline Chapter 6 The Basic Interactions between • Photon interactions Photons and Charged Particles – Photoelectric effect – Compton scattering with Matter – Pair productions Radiation Dosimetry I – Coherent scattering • Charged particle interactions – Stopping power and range Text: H.E Johns and J.R. Cunningham, The – Bremsstrahlung interaction th physics of radiology, 4 ed. – Bragg peak http://www.utoledo.edu/med/depts/radther Photon interactions Photoelectric effect • Collision between a photon and an • With energy deposition atom results in ejection of a bound – Photoelectric effect electron – Compton scattering • The photon disappears and is replaced by an electron ejected from the atom • No energy deposition in classical Thomson treatment with kinetic energy KE = hν − Eb – Pair production (above the threshold of 1.02 MeV) • Highest probability if the photon – Photo-nuclear interactions for higher energies energy is just above the binding energy (above 10 MeV) of the electron (absorption edge) • Additional energy may be deposited • Without energy deposition locally by Auger electrons and/or – Coherent scattering Photoelectric mass attenuation coefficients fluorescence photons of lead and soft tissue as a function of photon energy. K and L-absorption edges are shown for lead Thomson scattering Photoelectric effect (classical treatment) • Electron tends to be ejected • Elastic scattering of photon (EM wave) on free electron o at 90 for low energy • Electron is accelerated by EM wave and radiates a wave photons, and approaching • No
    [Show full text]
  • Quantum Electric Field Fluctuations and Potential Scattering
    Quantum Electric Field Fluctuations and Potential Scattering Haiyun Huang1, ∗ and L. H. Ford1, y 1Institute of Cosmology, Department of Physics and Astronomy Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA Abstract Some physical effects of time averaged quantum electric field fluctuations are discussed. The one loop radiative correction to potential scattering are approximately derived from simple arguments which invoke vacuum electric field fluctuations. For both above barrier scattering and quantum tunneling, this effect increases the transmission probability. It is argued that the shape of the potential determines a sampling function for the time averaging of the quantum electric field oper- ator. We also suggest that there is a nonperturbative enhancement of the transmission probability which can be inferred from the probability distribution for time averaged electric field fluctuations. PACS numbers: 03.70.+k, 12.20.Ds, 05.40.-a arXiv:1503.02962v1 [hep-th] 10 Mar 2015 ∗Electronic address: [email protected] yElectronic address: [email protected] 1 I. INTRODUCTION The vacuum fluctuations of the quantized electromagnetic field give rise a number of physical effects, including the Casimir effect, the Lamb shift, and the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron. Many of these effects are calculated in perturbative quantum electrodynamics, often by a procedure which does not easily lend itself to an interpretation in terms of field fluctuations. An exception is Welton's [1] calculation of the dominant contribution to the Lamb shift, which leads to a simple physical picture in which electric field fluctuations cause an electron in the 2s state of hydrogen to be shifted upwards in energy.
    [Show full text]
  • Bremsstrahlung Radiation by a Tunneling Particle: a Time-Dependent Description
    RAPID COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICAL REVIEW C, VOLUME 60, 031602 Bremsstrahlung radiation by a tunneling particle: A time-dependent description C. A. Bertulani,1,* D. T. de Paula,1,† and V. G. Zelevinsky2,‡ 1Instituto de Fı´sica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21945-970 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2Department of Physics and Astronomy and National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1321 ͑Received 21 December 1998; published 23 August 1999͒ We study the bremsstrahlung radiation of a tunneling charged particle in a time-dependent picture. In particular, we treat the case of bremsstrahlung during ␣ decay and show deviations of the numerical results from the semiclassical estimates. A standard assumption of a preformed ␣ particle inside the well leads to sharp high-frequency lines in the bremsstrahlung emission. These lines correspond to ‘‘quantum beats’’ of the internal part of the wave function during tunneling arising from the interference of the neighboring resonances in the open well. ͓S0556-2813͑99͒50709-7͔ PACS number͑s͒: 23.60.ϩe, 03.65.Sq, 27.80.ϩw, 41.60.Ϫm Recent experiments ͓1͔ have triggered great interest in the that a stable numerical solution of the Schro¨dinger equation, phenomena of bremsstrahlung during tunneling processes keeping track simultaneously of fast oscillations in the well which was discussed from different theoretical viewpoints in ͑‘‘escape attempts’’͒ and extremely slow tunneling, is virtu- Refs. ͓2–4͔. This can shed light on basic and still controver- ally impossible in this approach: for 210Po it would require sial quantum-mechanical problems such as tunneling times about 1030 time steps in the iteration process.
    [Show full text]
  • Bremsstrahlung 1
    Bremsstrahlung 1 ' $ Bremsstrahlung Geant4 &Tutorial December 6, 2006% Bremsstrahlung 2 'Bremsstrahlung $ A fast moving charged particle is decelerated in the Coulomb field of atoms. A fraction of its kinetic energy is emitted in form of real photons. The probability of this process is / 1=M 2 (M: masse of the particle) and / Z2 (atomic number of the matter). Above a few tens MeV, bremsstrahlung is the dominant process for e- and e+ in most materials. It becomes important for muons (and pions) at few hundred GeV. γ e- Geant4 &Tutorial December 6, 2006% Bremsstrahlung 3 ' $ differential cross section The differential cross section is given by the Bethe-Heitler formula [Heitl57], corrected and extended for various effects: • the screening of the field of the nucleus • the contribution to the brems from the atomic electrons • the correction to the Born approximation • the polarisation of the matter (dielectric suppression) • the so-called LPM suppression mechanism • ... See Seltzer and Berger for a synthesis of the theories [Sel85]. Geant4 &Tutorial December 6, 2006% Bremsstrahlung 4 ' $ screening effect Depending of the energy of the projectile, the Coulomb field of the nucleus can be more on less screened by the electron cloud. A screening parameter measures the ratio of an 'impact parameter' of the projectile to the radius of an atom, for instance given by a Thomas-Fermi approximation or a Hartree-Fock calculation. Then, screening functions are introduced in the Bethe-Heitler formula. Qualitatively: • at low energy ! no screening effect • at ultra relativistic electron energy ! full screening effect Geant4 &Tutorial December 6, 2006% Bremsstrahlung 5 ' $ electron-electron bremsstrahlung The projectile feels not only the Coulomb field of the nucleus (charge Ze), but also the fields of the atomic electrons (Z electrons of charge e).
    [Show full text]
  • Coherent Bremsstrahlung and the Quantum Theory of Measurement E.H
    Coherent Bremsstrahlung and the Quantum Theory of Measurement E.H. Du Marchie van Voorthuysen To cite this version: E.H. Du Marchie van Voorthuysen. Coherent Bremsstrahlung and the Quantum Theory of Mea- surement. Journal de Physique I, EDP Sciences, 1995, 5 (2), pp.245-262. 10.1051/jp1:1995126. jpa-00247055 HAL Id: jpa-00247055 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/jpa-00247055 Submitted on 1 Jan 1995 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. (1995) Phys. I OEYance J. 245-262 5 1995, 245 FEBRUARY PAGE Classification Physics Abstracts 78.70F 03.658 Bremsstrahlung Quantum Theory Coherent and the of Measurement Voorthuysen E-H- Marchie du van Gromngen, Physics Centre, Nuclear Solid and Materials Nijenborgh University State Science of Groningen, Netherlands NL 4, AG The 9747 (Received accepted September 1994) 1993, October December revised 29 19g4, 21 18 (CB) brernsstrahlung Bragg Coherent Abstract. is the result inelastic of scattering of elec- crystal. kev, hundreds elfect of few of collective trie whole microscope of In electron trons a a an theoretically possible inelastically electron of where the deterrnine trie is it atoms to row was contradictory.
    [Show full text]
  • X-Ray Production and Quality Introduction Fluorescence X-Rays
    Introduction • Physics of x-ray generation – Fluorescence x-rays X-Ray Production and Quality – Bremsstrahlung x-rays • Beam quality description Chapter 9 – Hardness or penetrating ability – Energy spectral distribution F.A. Attix, Introduction to Radiological – Biological effectiveness Physics and Radiation Dosimetry – X-ray filtration Fluorescence X-Rays Fluorescence Yield • Produced when an inner shell hn • The probability that a electron in an atom is removed fluorescence x-ray will as a result of L K escape the atom – – Electron capture or internal fluorescence yield YK, YL conversion Video at • YK = 0 for Z<10 (Ne) – Photoelectric effect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8IoRx5G47A • Y = 0 for Z<29 (Cu) – Hard collision with charged particle L • The minimum energy required to ionize • YM ~ 0 for all Z the inner shell electron is Eb Initiating event K-Fluorescence Photon Energy • The minimum energy supplied has to be > Eb • Secondary event: an electron from higher level • When electrons are used to produce fluorescence, fills out the K-shell vacancy (not all transitions they appear against a very strong background of are allowed by quantum mech. selection rules) continuous bremsstrahlung spectrum • A fluorescence photon with the energy equal to • To obtain a relatively pure fluorescence x-ray the difference between the two energy levels source have to use either heavy charged particles may be emitted or x-rays (photoelectric effect) • X-ray fluorescence has a very narrow energy • Both methods are used for trace-element line; often
    [Show full text]
  • The Behavior of Thermal and Bremsstrahlung Radiation
    THE BEHAVIOR OF THERMAL AND BREMSSTRAHLUNG RADIATION EMITTED BY MERGING BINARY NEUTRON STARS by Heather Harper A senior capstone submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science Department of Physics and Astronomy Brigham Young University April 2010 Copyright c 2010 Heather Harper All Rights Reserved BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT APPROVAL of a senior capstone submitted by Heather Harper This capstone has been reviewed by the research advisor, research coordinator, and department chair and has been found to be satisfactory. Date David Neilsen, Advisor Date Branton Campbell, Research Coordinator Date Ross L. Spencer, Chair ABSTRACT THE BEHAVIOR OF THERMAL AND BREMSSTRAHLUNG RADIATION EMITTED BY MERGING BINARY NEUTRON STARS Heather Harper Department of Physics and Astronomy Bachelor of Science We model the electromagnetic emissions of a binary neutron star merger. We use the ideal gas equation of state and rely on thermal and bremsstrahlung radiation as the sources of emission. We calculate the intensity of this radiation through radiative transfer to produce numerical and graphical data. As the merger progresses we see high intensity areas increase in the center of the stars and fluctuations in the outer areas, including the formation and disappearance of luminous appendages. Right before the collapse of the merger into a black hole, we see four distinct high intensity arms develop a halo around the center of the stars. This halo may be caused by gravitational forces and angular momentum effects. We also see a sharp drop in hard gamma emissions at the later stages of the merger which could be connected to a gamma ray burst.
    [Show full text]
  • Accelerator Glossary of Terms
    Accelerator Glossary of Terms Table of Contents The Obligatory Disclaimer 2 -M- 75 -Numbers- 3 -N- 83 -A- 5 -O- 87 -B- 13 -P- 89 -C- 23 -Q- 99 -D- 37 -R- 101 -E- 45 -S- 107 -F- 49 -T- 121 -G- 53 -U- 130 -H- 55 -V- 132 -I- 61 -W- 134 -J- 65 -X- 136 -K- 67 -Y- 136 -L- 69 -Z- 136 Glossary v3.6 Last Revised: 6/8/11 Printed 6/8/11 Accelerator Glossary of Terms The Obligatory Disclaimer This is a glossary of accelerator related terms that are important to the Beams Division, Operations Department, Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory. In the course of the day to day working with the accelerator there is a bewildering array of "Accelerator Technospeak" used in the Operations Group and other areas of the Beams Division. This glossary is meant to be an attempt at helping the uninitiated understand some of the jargon, slang, and buzz words that are commonly used in everyday communication within the Beams Division and the lab in general. Since this glossary was created primarily for Operations Department personnel there are some terms included in this glossary that might be confusing or unfamiliar to those outside of the Operations Department. By the same token there are many commonly understood terms used by other divisions and groups in the lab that are not well known or non existent within the Operations Department. Many terms will not be found within this document. If anybody has any contributions of terms, definitions or sources of other glossaries to be included please feel free to pass them on, even if they are not related to the Beams Division.
    [Show full text]
  • Electron-Electron Bremsstrahlung in a Hot Plasma E
    Electron-Electron Bremsstrahlung in a Hot Plasma E. Haug Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Astrophysik der Universität Tübingen (Z. Naturforsch. 30 a, 1546-1552 [1975] ; received November 7, 1975) Using the differential cross section for electron-electron (e-e) bremsstrahlung exact to lowest- order perturbation theory the bremsstrahlung spectra and the total rate of energy loss of a hot electron gas are calculated. The results are compared to the nonrelativistic and extreme-relativistic approximations available and to previous work. The e-e contribution to the bremsstrahlung emis- sion of a hydrogenic plasma is found to be not negligible at temperatures above 108 K, especially in the short-wavelength part of the spectrum. 1. Introduction 2. Bremsstrahlung Spectra The observation of the X-radiation emanating The number of photons emitted per unit time, per from a hot Maxwellian plasma is very useful in unit volume, per unit energy interval by an electron obtaining quantitative estimates on the physical gas of uniform number density ne at temperature T parameters such as electron temperature and density. is given by The basic requirement for the deduction of these Pee(K,T) (2.1) quantities is the knowledge of bremsstrahlung cross sections. Whereas there ajp no problems concerning 2 3 -1 »e c f dW d p2 /(Pl) /(p2) VlPi ^lizl da the X-radiation arising from electron-ion (e-i) colli- sions, the cross section for electron-electron (e-e) where c is the velocity of light, ^ and e2 are the total bremsstrahlung was known only in nonrelativistic electron energies, and do/dk is the cross section for (quadrupole) and in extreme-relativistic approxima- generating a photon of energy k in the collision of tions 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Light Emission Based on Nanophotonic Vacuum Forces
    ARTICLES https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-019-0672-8 Light emission based on nanophotonic vacuum forces Nicholas Rivera 1*, Liang Jie Wong2,3, John D. Joannopoulos1, Marin Soljačić 1 and Ido Kaminer 4* The vanishingly small response of matter to light above ultraviolet frequencies makes the manipulation of light emission at such frequencies challenging. As a result, state-of-the-art sources of high-frequency light are typically active, relying on strong external electromagnetic fields. Here, we present a fundamental mechanism of light emission that is fully passive, relying instead on vacuum fluctuations near nanophotonic structures. This mechanism can be used to generate light at any frequency, including high-frequency radiation such as X-rays. The proposed mechanism is equivalent to a quantum optical two-photon pro- cess, in which a free electron spontaneously emits a low-energy polariton and a high-energy photon simultaneously. Although two-photon processes are nominally weak, we find that the resulting X-ray radiation can be substantial. The strength of this process is related to the strong Casimir–Polder forces that atoms experience in the nanometre vicinity of materials, with the essential difference being that the fluctuating force here acts on a free electron, rather than a neutral, polarizable atom. The light emission can be shaped by controlling the nanophotonic geometry or the underlying material electromagnetic response at optical or infrared frequencies. Our results reveal ways of applying the tools of nanophotonics even at frequencies where mate- rials have an insubstantial electromagnetic response. The process we study, when scaled up, may also enable new concepts for compact and tunable X-ray radiation.
    [Show full text]