bremsstrahlung | physics | Britannica

bremsstrahlung, (German: “braking radiation”), electromagnetic radiation produced by a sudden slowing down or deflection of charged particles (especially ... bremsstrahlung Sections Article Introduction FastFacts Facts&RelatedContent AdditionalInfo MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Science Physics Matter&Energy bremsstrahlung physics Alternatetitles:brakingradiation Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/science/bremsstrahlung More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites Academia-Characteristicsofbremsstrahlunginelectronbeams InternetArchive-RadiationhazardsofBremsstrahlung By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica | ViewEditHistory RelatedTopics: X-ray ...(Showmore) Seeallrelatedcontent→ bremsstrahlung,(German:“brakingradiation”),electromagneticradiationproducedbyasuddenslowingdownordeflectionofchargedparticles(especiallyelectrons)passingthroughmatterinthevicinityofthestrongelectricfieldsofatomicnuclei.Bremsstrahlung,forexample,accountsforcontinuousX-rayspectra—i.e.,thatcomponentofXraystheenergyofwhichcoversawholerangefromamaximumvaluedownwardthroughlowervalues.Ingeneratingbremsstrahlung,someelectronsbeamedatametaltargetinanX-raytubearebroughttorestbyonehead-oncollisionwithanucleusandtherebyhavealltheirenergyofmotionconvertedatonceintoradiationofmaximumenergy.Otherelectronsfromthesameincidentbeamcometorestafterbeingdeflectedmanytimesbythepositivelychargednuclei.Eachdeflectiongivesrisetoapulseofelectromagneticenergy,orphoton,oflessthanmaximumenergy.BremsstrahlungisoneoftheprocessesbywhichcosmicraysdissipatesomeoftheirenergyintheEarth’satmosphere.SolarXrayshavebeenattributedtobremsstrahlunggeneratedbyfastelectronspassingthroughthematterinthepartoftheSun’satmospherecalledthechromosphere.Internalbremsstrahlungarisesintheradioactivedisintegrationprocessofbetadecay,whichconsistsoftheproductionandemissionofelectrons(orpositrons,positiveelectrons)byunstableatomicnucleiorthecapturebynucleiofoneoftheirownorbitingelectrons.Theseelectrons,deflectedinthevicinityoftheirownassociatednuclei,emitinternalbremsstrahlung.