Numerical calculation of classical bremsstrahlung

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.36.45· OSTI ID:5963710

Kim, L; Pratt, R H

We have carried out numerical calculations for the classical bremsstrahlung spectrum, angular distribution, and polarization resulting from electrons scattering in screened atomic potentials. The calculations utilize the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation from moving charges together with the classical mechanics of energy-loss-free orbits of charged particles in such potentials. The trajectories of incident electrons in the given central potential are calculated numerically, and the doubly differential bremsstrahlung cross section is obtained by taking the Fourier transform of the acceleration of the dipole moment of the projectile and integrating the radiation over the impact parameters of the beam. Results have been obtained for several neutral atoms for electron energies from 1 eV to 500 keV, using self-consistent Dirac-Slater atomic potentials. Comparisons with quantum-mechanical partial-wave results for the spectrum show that, as in the point Coulomb case, the classical method is generally good for screened potentials for low incident electron energies. The classical method therefore can be useful in low-energy situations for which the usual Elwert-Born form-factor method is not satisfactory. We have also obtained and examined the angular distributions of classical bremsstrahlung. Screening reduces the value of the asymmetry parameter which characterizes the angular distribution of dipole radiation. The difference of screened results from the point Coulomb results increases with decreasing incident electron energy. At very low energy the value of the asymmetry parameter oscillates with energy, and this also leads to oscillations in the degree of polarization.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
• OSTI ID: 5963710
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 36:1; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
ATOM COLLISIONS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CALCULATION METHODS
COLLISIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
EMISSION
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PHOTON EMISSION
POLARIZATION
POTENTIALS
RADIATIONS
SCREENING
SPECTRA