Atomic Bremsstrahlung: retrospectives, current status and perspectives

Abstract

We describe here the Atomic bremsstrahlung - emission of continuous spectrum electromagnetic radiation, which is generated in collisions of particles that have internal deformable structure that includes positively and negatively charged constituents. The deformation of one of or both colliding partners induces multiple, mainly dipole, time-dependent electrical moments that become a source of radiation. The history of Atomic bremsstrahlung invention is presented and it's unusual in comparison to ordinary bremsstrahlung properties are discussed. As examples, fast electron - atom, non-relativistic and relativistic collisions are considered. Attention is given to ion - atom and atom - atom collisions. Specifics of elastic and inelastic (i.e. radiation accompanied by destruction of collision partners) Atomic bremsstrahlung will be mentioned. Attention will be given to possible manifestation of Atomic bremsstrahlung in Nature and in some exotic systems, for instance scattering of electrons upon muonic hydrogen. Some cooperative effects connected to Atomic bremsstrahlung will be considered. New classical schemes similar to Atomic bremsstrahlung will be presented.