Research Note
Bremsstrahlung energy loss of electrons passing through a plasma
Institut für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Universität Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, Germany e-mail: haug@tat.physik.uni-tuebingen.de
Received:
3
March
2004
Accepted:
25
May
2004
The average energy loss due to bremsstrahlung emission of electrons passing through a plasma is calculated. In particular, the contribution of electron-electron bremsstrahlung is specified. The bremsstrahlung losses are compared with the energy loss by collisions with ambient electrons. Above electron energies of 510 MeV the energy loss due to bremsstrahlung predominates.
Key words: radiation mechanisms: nonthermal
© ESO, 2004