Electromagnetic radiation produced by a sudden slowing down or deflection of charged particles, especially electrons, passing through matter in the vicinity of the strong electric fields of atomic nuclei. It occurs as cosmic rays pass through the Earth's atmosphere and accounts for continuous X-ray spectra.
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.For the full entry on bremsstrahlung, visit Britannica.com.
What made you look up bremsstrahlung? Please tell us what you were reading, watching or discussing that led you here.
Take Our 10-Question Quiz
The commonly misspelled words quiz
A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing
How strong is your vocabulary?
The Vocab Quiz Game for iPhone & iPad
"Incredibly fun and addictive. And informative!" User Review, iTunes