X-rays from free electrons Feature Summary

Type:
From Physics Research
Title:
X-rays from free electrons
Description:
The spiral track above was made by an electron moving in a magnetic field. Since motion along a curved path requires a force perpendicular to the direction of motion, the electron is accelerated. Accelerated charges radiate electromagnetic waves, so the electron loses energy and spirals inward. To learn more about this process, see X-rays from free electrons.
Image:
image credit: <a href="http://copyright.web.cern.ch/" target="_blank">CERN</a>; <a href="http://teachers.web.cern.ch/teachers/archiv/HST2005/bubble_chambers/BCwebsite/index.htm" target="_blank">image source</a>; <a href="http://www.compadre.org/informal/images/features/electrons-spiral-large.gif" target="_blank">larger image</a>
image credit: CERN; image source; larger image
Image URL:
https://www.compadre.org/Informal/images/features/electrons-spiral-large.gif
Featured:
April 1, 2012 - April 16, 2012