jarrusäteily

Jarrusäteily, also known as braking radiation or free-free emission, is a form of electromagnetic radiation produced when a charged particle, such as an electron, is decelerated by the electromagnetic field of another charged particle, typically an atomic nucleus. This deceleration causes the charged particle to lose kinetic energy, which is emitted as a photon. The intensity and spectrum of the jarrusäteily depend on the properties of the interacting particles, including their charge, velocity, and the strength of the interaction.

In astrophysical contexts, jarrusäteily is a significant emission mechanism in hot, ionized gases, such as those found in galaxy clusters, supernova remnants, and the interstellar medium. The high temperatures in these environments mean that charged particles are moving at high velocities, leading to frequent collisions and significant jarrusäteily. This radiation is often observed in the radio to X-ray parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The observed spectrum of jarrusäteily can provide valuable information about the temperature, density, and composition of the emitting plasma. For example, by analyzing the intensity of jarrusäteily at different frequencies, astronomers can estimate the electron temperature of a distant gas cloud. Jarrusäteily is also a phenomenon observed in laboratory settings, such as in X-ray tubes, where high-speed electrons are suddenly stopped by a metal target, producing a continuous spectrum of X-rays.