Spontaneous interference bremsstrahlung effect in the scattering of a relativistic electron by a nucleus in the field of two light waves

This paper presents, for the general relativistic case, a theoretical study of nonresonance spontaneous bremsstrahlung by an electron scattered by a nucleus in the field of two elliptically polarized light waves propagating in the same direction. We show that there are two significantly different kinematic regions: the noninterference region where the main multiphoton parameters are the Bunkin-Fedorov quantum parameters γ _1,2, and the interference region where interference effects play an important role and where the quantum interference parameters α(±) act as multiphoton parameters. We encounter the spontaneous interference bremsstrahlung effect in two cases: in the special case of the same linear polarization of both waves, and in the general case of elliptical polarization of the waves. The effect manifests itself in the interference region and is due to stimulated, correlated emission and absorption of photons of both waves. For moderately strong fields, we find the cross sections of spontaneous bremsstrahlung by an electron scattered by a nucleus in the given kinematic regions. Finally, we show that the differential cross section in the interference region with correlated emission (absorption) of equal numbers of photons of both waves can be much greater than the corresponding cross section in any other geometry. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 1210–1240 (October 1999)     

On harmonic generation in a photoionized gas

The laws characterizing the radiation of high harmonics due to the coherent bremsstrahlung effect are indicated in the limit of high intensity of the laser pump photoionizing a gas in regime of suppression of the ionization barrier. It is shown that the intensity of the harmonics is determined by the quantum properties of the electron distribution in an atom before it is ionized. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 7, 486–490 (10 April 1999)     

Radiation from relativistic electrons in homogeneous condensed matter at large angles (≫γ−1)

The radiation spectra from 900 and 400 MeV electrons in thin Ta, Cu, and Sn foils are measured at an angle of 19° with respect to the direction of motion of the beam. The radiation yield and its dependence on the electron energy agree satisfactorily with the theory of polarization bremsstrahlung. This result represents the first direct observation of polarization bremsstrahlung from ultrarelativistic electrons in homogeneous condensed matter. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 63, No. 3, 145–149 (10 February 1996)     

Nonlinear properties of a weakly collisional plasma at low radiation intensities

In this paper we evaluate theoretically the modification of the distribution function of slow subthermal electrons heated by radiation in a completely ionized plasma. The new solution we have found to the kinetic equation under conditions typical of weak-collisional plasmas can be used to predict new nonlinear behavior arising from perturbations of the nonuniform electron density and the coefficient of nonlocal heat transfer that depend on the intensity of the radiation heating the plasma, which is absorbed via inverse bremsstrahlung. It is predicted that this new nonlinear behavior manifests itself at unexpectedly small radiation intensities. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 1299–1312 (April 1998)     

Weibel instability associated with inverse bremsstrahlung absorption of intense electromagnetic radiation

We investigate the Weibel instability in a plasma with a nonstationary three-temperature electron distribution generated by inverse bremsstrahlung of an intense elliptically polarized electromagnetic wave. We show that electron-ion collisions in this strong high frequency field are simultaneously the cause of the development of the instability and the reason it is suppressed. We find plasma and radiation parameters for which spontaneous quasistationary solenoidal electromagnetic fields can increase by many times. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 111, 1245–1257 (April 1997)     

Formation mechanisms and structure of the luminescence spectra of a dense resonant medium

The purely thermal visible and infrared radiation emitted by a dense resonant medium (sodium vapor) heated nonuniformly to temperatures of 600–1200 K was investigated experimentally for the first time under conditions where the photon mean free path is comparable with the emission wavelength. The profile of the recorded spectra and the absolute luminescence intensities in the different spectral ranges show good agreement with the results of a numerical simulation using a previously developed theory of resonance radiation transport which assumes a Boltzmann spectral distribution of the resonant level population proportional to exp(−ℏω/T). The self-reversed resonant sodium line exhibited strong asymmetry and it was shown that under certain conditions, the luminescence spectrum of the medium may exhibit an additional broad peak on the far “red” limb of the resonance line. Calculations and measurements demonstrated that the intensity of the thermal emission of sodium vapor at this red peak is several orders of magnitude higher than that obtained from the standard theory of resonance radiation transport. This effect is arbitrarily termed an infrared “ catastrophe.” It is noted that in a solar corona plasma and in gas-discharge lamps, the far red limbs of the resonant lines may make a substantial contribution to the total luminescence intensity and in some cases, considerably exceed the intensity of the photorecombination and bremsstrahlung continuum. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 135–154 (July 1998)     

Polarization of the high harmonics of radiation in a laser plasma

The polarization of the high harmonics generated in plasmas by the bremsstrahlung of electrons oscillating under the influence of high-power plasma-heating electromagnetic radiation is described on the basis of a simple model of a cold plasma. It is shown that when the polarization of the heating radiation differs from plane polarization by a small but finite amount, the high harmonics are generated with almost perpendicular polarization, and the degree of circular polarization of the harmonics increases with the number of the harmonic. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 5, 313–316 (10 March 1998)     

The polarization of radiation in single crystals in the semiclassical approach

The radiation emission spectra of polarized photons emitted from charged particles in single oriented crystals are obtained in Bayer-Katkov-Strakhovenko semiclassical approach. The results of numerical calculations are presented in the region of small angles of incidence for which the coherent theory fails but the magnetic bremsstrahlung region is not yet achieved. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 3, 171–175 (10 February 1999)     

Interaction of a modulated electron beam with a magnetoactive plasma

Experimental results concerning the interaction of a modulated electron beam with a magnetoactive plasma in the whistler frequency range are reported. It was shown experimentally that when a beam is injected into the plasma, waves can be generated by two possible mechanisms: Cherenkov emission of whistlers by the modulated beam, and transition radiation from the beam injection point. In the case of weak beam currents (N _b/N ₀)≪⁻⁴) the Cherenkov resonance radiation is more than an order of magnitude stronger than the transition radiation; the Cherenkov emission efficiency decreases at high beam currents. The transformation of the distribution function of the beam is investigated for the case of weak beam currents. It is shown that in the case of the Cherenkov interaction with whistlers the beam is retarded and the beam distribution function becomes wider and acquires a plateau region. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 6, 378–382 (25 March 1998)     

Estimates of electron-positron pair production in the interaction of high-power laser radiation with high-Z targets

Electron-positron production processes occurring in the interaction of 10¹⁸–10²⁰ W/cm² laser radiation with high-Z targets are examined. Computational results are presented for the pair production and the positron yield from the target with allowance for the contribution of pair production processes due to electrons and bremsstrahlung photons. Monte Carlo simulations using the PRIZMA code confirm the estimates obtained. The possible positron yield from high-Z targets irradiated with 10²–10³ TW laser radiation is estimated to be 10⁹–10¹¹. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 4, 239–244 (25 February 1998)     

Transition radiation of a charge in media with a nonuniform potential

The influence of a potential barrier on the transition radiation in the form of volume and surface electromagnetic waves emitted by a charged particle crossing an interface between media is investigated. It is shown that the volume-wave radiation field arises not only as a result of the jump in the dielectric constant at the boundary but also as a result of the velocity jump and the reflection of an electron induced by the presence of a nonuniform potential barrier. The angular distribution of the transition radiation intensity is obtained. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 11–14 (January 1998)     

Effect of multiple scattering on the emission of ultrarelativistic electrons in a thin layer of matter

We develop a quantitative theory of the effect of multiple scattering on the bremsstrahlung of ultrarelativistic electrons in a thin layer of matter. The effect is an analog of the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal (LPM) effect of suppression of the radiation emitted by high-energy particles in an infinite amorphous medium, but certain differences do exist. On the basis of our approach we analyze the data recently obtained at SLAC (E-146) in experiments set up to verify the LPM effect. We show that in addition to the LPM effect, this experiment exhibited the suppression of bremsstrahlung in a thin layer of matter, theoretically predicted in our earlier papers. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 58–70 (January 1998)     

Experimental investigation of the characteristic features of bremsstrahlung from high-energy electrons in thin amorphous targets

Radiation from 0–900 MeV electrons in thin amorphous films is investigated experimentally in the photon energy range 20–700 keV. The Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal suppression of the soft part of the bremsstrahlung spectrum and the Ter-Mikaélyan density effect are detected. Coherent bremsstrahlung on macroscopic inhomogeneities in the target material is observed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 65, No. 5, 369–373 (10 March 1997)     

Production of monochromatic radiation in an argon plasma by means of acoustic waves

It is shown that monochromatic radiation (λ₁=5888 Å, λ₂=5882 Å, and λ₃=4876 Å) can be obtained in a gas-discharge plasma in argon with the use of acoustic waves. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 5, 355–357 (10 March 1999)     

Measurement of the energy distribution of bremsstrahlung using Compton scattering

The GEANT 4.9.2 software package is applied for the simulation of primary and Compton scattered bremsstrahlung spectra. The possibility of restoring primary γ-radiation spectra with the energy 0.02–1200 MeV using Compton scattering on secondary scattering targets is studied. The advantages of light targets using are demonstrated. An additional bremsstrahlung contribution from e^±-pairs is calculated for high-energy γ quanta; the influence of CXR on the form of scattered X-ray quantum spectra is estimated. The spectra which have a multipeak structure are restored. For high-energy γ quanta there occurs significant spread of energies in the Compton scattered radiation spectrum, which imposes stringent conditions on collimation and detector resolution capability. The possibility of measuring the bremsstrahlung spectra from a primary target during high-angle Compton scattering is estimated.     

Experimental observation of cyclotron superradiance

Intense (several hundreds of kilowatts) subnanosecond coherent microwave radiation — cyclotron superradiance of an electron swarm moving in a uniform magnetic field — was recorded. The maximum power of the radiation was observed under group synchronization conditions, when the translational velocity of the swarm is equal to the group velocity of the waves in the waveguide channel. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 63, No. 5, 322–325 (10 March 1996)     

The role of the polarization mechanism for emission of radiation by atoms over a broad photon frequency range

This paper develops an effective method for calculating the bremsstrahlung cross section with allowance for the polarization mechanism. We calculate the cross section of bremsstrahlung produced in the scattering of electrons and positrons by H and Kr atoms. We also demonstrate the important role of polarization bremsstrahlung in the formation of the total emission spectrum over the entire frequency range. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 458–473 (August 1998)     

Depth of formation of a reflected soft x-ray beam under conditions of specular reflection

Over a wide range of glancing-incidence angles, bremsstrahlung from an x-ray tube was used to measure the reflection spectra of an Si-SiO₂ system with different dioxide thickness near the Si L _2,3 ionization threshold. The angular dependence of the depth of formation of the reflected soft x-ray beam was determined experimentally and compared with that obtained from a theoretical analysis of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and the surface of an isotropic solid. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1360–1363 (July 1998)