Bremsstrahlung Effect

This definition page has been automatically generated. You can help ExoDictionary by expanding, updating, or correcting it.

This autostub has not yet had its initial copyediting proof and may contain significant formatting and even factual errors. You can improve Exodictionary by cleaning up the page markup and verifying that the definition is correct and then removing this tag.

This autostub has not yet had its initial categorization proof and may be categorized incorrectly. You can improve Exodictionary by removing inappropriate categories and then removing this tag.

Bremsstrahlung Effect

The emission of electromagnetic radiation as a consequence of the acceleration of charged elementary particles, such as electrons, under the influence of the attractive or repulsive force fields of atomic nuclei near which the charged particle moves.
In cosmic-ray shower production, bremsstrahlung effects give rise to emission of gamma rays as electrons encounter atmospheric nuclei. The emission of radiation in the bremsstrahlung effect is merely one instance of the general rule that electromagnetic radiation is emitted only when electric charges undergo acceleration.

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use