6533b83afe1ef96bd12a77f0

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Spin-orbit interaction in bremsstrahlung and its effect on the electron motion in a strong Coulomb field

Oleksiy KovtunVladimir A. YerokhinValeri TioukineBo CederwallStanislav TashenovAndrey Surzhykov

subject

PhysicsField (physics)Linear polarizationAstrophysics::High Energy Astrophysical PhenomenaCompton scatteringBremsstrahlungCoulombElectronSpin–orbit interactionAtomic physicsPolarization (waves)Atomic and Molecular Physics and Optics

description

Linear polarization of bremsstrahlung x rays produced in collisions of longitudinally polarized 2.1-MeV electrons with gold atoms was studied using the Compton scattering technique. We observed that the angle of x-ray polarization is strongly correlated with the incoming electron polarization. This correlation reveals the dominance of the spin-orbit interaction in bremsstrahlung and indicates a striking effect of the electron spin on the electron motion in a strong Coulomb field. The results confirm the validity of the theoretical predictions in a computationally challenging energy regime.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2015-12-08Physical Review A
https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.92.062707