Elektronenstrahlschweißen

Elektronenstrahlung, or electron radiation, denotes electromagnetic radiation produced when electrons are accelerated or decelerated. In solid targets or plasmas, the dominant process is bremsstrahlung, or braking radiation, which arises as fast electrons interact with the electric field of atomic nuclei. The resulting photon spectrum is continuous and can extend up to the initial electron energy; the emitted intensity depends on factors such as electron energy and the atomic number of the target material.

In addition to bremsstrahlung, other forms of electron-related radiation include synchrotron radiation, generated when relativistic electrons circulate in magnetic fields, yielding highly collimated, intense X-ray beams. Cherenkov radiation can also occur when charged electrons move through a dielectric medium at speeds exceeding the phase velocity of light in that medium, producing a characteristic blue glow in some detectors.

Applications of Elektronenstrahlung are widespread. In X-ray technology, accelerated electrons bombarding metal targets produce X-rays used in medical imaging, diagnostics, and materials analysis. Synchrotron radiation facilities generate bright, tunable X-ray beams for fundamental research in physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. In electron spectroscopy and electron microscopy, emitted X-ray lines and other secondary radiations enable elemental and chemical analysis of samples.

Safety considerations are central to its use, as the radiation is ionizing. Shielding, exposure control, and monitoring are important to protect operators and the public. The study of Elektronenstrahlung continues to advance both practical technologies and our understanding of photon–electron interactions.