Diffraction Radiation from Relativistic Electron Bunches
Abstract
Diffraction radiation is that electromagnetic energy which is caused by a relativistic charged particle passing through an aperture in an opaque material. Ter-Mikaelian solved for the diffraction radiation from a point charge. This paper discusses the phenomena resulting from finite, relativistic charge bunches. Using the Huygens Fresnel principle, diffraction patterns from spherical and cylindrical charge distributions are found and plotted. For charge bunch sizes less than the radiation wavelength, the results are almost identical to those for point charges. The radiation pattern is composed of two regions. The transition region is characterized by a strong peak at theta = 1/gamma, the Lorentz factor. The diffraction region consists of a series of peaks and nulls in field strength typical of the standard plane wave diffraction pattern.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA176668
Entities
People
- Michael J. Gallet
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School