Understanding Bremsstrahlung and Cerenkov Emission

[ArmoSkater87]

Bremsstrahlung and Cerenkov

I've been wondering about the different cases of light emittion, and the most unclear to me are Bremsstrahlung and chrenkoff. If u can, please give me details about these two cases. Thank You. :D

 

[Crumbles]

Cerenkov Light

Cerenkov light is light that is emitted when particles travel faster than the speed of light in a medium. For example, if particles travel through glass at a speed faster than light itself would travel through glass, cerenkov light is emitted. It is analogic to the sonic boom.

 

[ArmoSkater87]

yea, i already knew about that, i was wondering if u knew any details to why this sonic boom of light happens.

 

[Crumbles]

Check out this link: http://dept.physics.upenn.edu/balloon/cerenkov_radiation.html

"The electric and magnetic fields associated with a rapidly moving charge excite the atoms of the medium. The excited atoms emit part of their light in the form of a coherent wavefront of radiation at fixed angle with respect to the trajectory of the charged particle"

 

[ArmoSkater87]

k, thanks, that makes sense :D ...but why would the magnetic/electric field caused by the moving particle excite the atoms of the medium. I had a though but I am not sure, maybe the charge makes the electrons in the atom repell and go to an outer energy level, but not I am sure, any help would be great. :)