Strong effect of the electron spin on bremsstrahlung observed in the relativistic regime

2015

We have studied bremsstrahlung produced by polarized 2.1 MeV electrons colliding with a thin gold target. We have observed a strong correlation between the orientation of the electron spin and the angle of x-ray linear polarization at the x-ray high energy tip region. This indicates a dominance of the spin-orbit interaction in bremsstrahlung.