Bremsstrahlungsäteilyä

Bremsstrahlung is a type of electromagnetic radiation produced by the deceleration of a charged particle. This phenomenon occurs when a charged particle, typically an electron, passes through the electric field of another charged particle, usually an atomic nucleus. The interaction causes the incoming particle to change direction and lose kinetic energy. This lost energy is then emitted as a photon, which is a quantum of electromagnetic radiation. The energy of the emitted photon can range from very low to the initial kinetic energy of the incident particle. The term "Bremsstrahlung" is a German word meaning "braking radiation."

The spectrum of Bremsstrahlung radiation is continuous, meaning it contains photons of all energies up to the maximum kinetic energy of the incident particle. This is in contrast to characteristic X-rays, which are emitted at specific, discrete energies corresponding to atomic electron shell transitions. Bremsstrahlung is a significant component of the radiation produced in X-ray tubes used for medical imaging and industrial radiography. When high-energy electrons strike a metal target, they undergo deceleration, generating a broad spectrum of X-ray photons. The intensity and spectral distribution of Bremsstrahlung radiation depend on the energy and type of the incident particles and the material of the target. It is also observed in astrophysical contexts, such as in hot plasmas in stars and galaxies.