Electron–heavy-nucleus bremsstrahlung at highly relativistic impact energies

Abstract

Bremsstrahlung including the polarization correlations is revisited by presenting a theoretical model which is suited for the short-wavelength limit. The fast incoming electron is described by a Sommerfeld-Maue function, whereas for the outgoing electron an exact Dirac function is used. The cross section for electrons radiatively scattered from gold is calculated in the impact energy range 0.2--10 MeV and is compared to results from the Elwert-Haug theory and to available experimental data and relativistic partial-wave calculations. As an ultrarelativistic benchmark, the polarization correlations for 10 MeV electrons and 3--10 MeV photons are also given.