Wake potential in the vicinity of a surface

Abstract

The wake potential associated with the passage of a swift charged particle through matter in the vicinity of a solid-vacuum surface is studied. Full results of the wake potential as a function of space and time when the particle moves parallel with and perpendicular to the surface are presented. Two different approaches are followed: a dielectric analysis based upon the specular-reflection model and a Hamiltonian treatment of the problem. Several different dielectric functions are used to describe the bulk solid. Nonlocal dispersion effects are investigated. The influence of damping on the induced potential and its velocity dependence are studied.