Advances in bremsstrahlung: a review

Abstract

Recent developments in bremsstrahlung from electrons colliding with atoms and nuclei at energies between 0.1 MeV and 500 MeV are reviewed. Considered are cross sections differential in the photon degrees of freedom, including coincidence geometries of photon and scattered electron. Also spin asymmetries and polarization transfer for polarized electron beams are investigated. An interpretation of the measurements in terms of the current bremsstrahlung theories is furnished.

Electronic structure effects in the electron bremsstrahlung from heavy ions

“…Electron bremsstrahlung is a process of the photon emission induced by the electron deceleration in the field of the ionic or atomic target. Investigations of this process are both of fundamental and of practical interest since they can provide information about the electronic structure and polarization properties of the target (see, e.g., reviews [1,2]).…”

“…At higher collision energies starting from several MeV and large momentum transfers (corresponding to large photon emission angles), the extended size of the nucleus becomes significant and needs to be taken into account. The corresponding theoretical calculations are performed with the Dirac wave functions in the combined Coulomb potential and a finite-range potential caused by the nuclear charge distribution [2,14].…”