The dependence of the spectral shape of bremsstrahlung in charged-particle-atom collisions upon the projectile velocity

Abstract

Taking account of the 'atomic' mechanism of bremsstrahlung, a study is made of the dependence of the shape of the total bremsstrahlung spectrum of a charged particle scattered on a many-electron atom on the velocity of the projectile. The bremsstrahlung (BS) spectrum is considered for the photon regions where there are wide maxima in the atomic photoionization cross section. The location of the maxima of 'atomic' and total bremsstrahlung spectra as functions of the projectile velocity is carefully studied. Simple methods for approximate calculation of the BS curves are presented. These methods may be useful for a wide tabulation of the BS cross sections for different atoms and in various photon frequency and projectile velocity regions. In the particular case of Xe BS spectra are calculated for electrons, positrons and protons in the energy ranges 0.6-50 keV, 10-50 keV and 1-100 MeV, respectively.