X-Ray Emission from Synchrotrons vs. Cyclotrons

[oldmisery]

Why do accelerating electrons (synchrotron) emit x-rays, but accelerating protons (cyclotron) don't? Both are accelerating/decelerating charges.

 

[Bob S]

The emission power of synchrotron radiation depends on the relativistic Lorentz factor γ to the fourth power, so 10 GeV electrons radiate much more than 10 GeV protons, other factors being the same. See

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particles/synchrotron.html

Protons do radiate synchrotron radiation. It is expected to be a serious problem in LHC at full energy (7 GeV per beam), because the proton synchrotron radiation is soft x-rays, that cause residual gas atoms adsorbed to the beam tube walls to desorb, causing a vacuum pressure rise and proton residual gas scattering and beam loss.

Bob S

 

[nasu]

They do. As any other charged particle when accelerated.
The power emitted is many order of magnitude lower than for electrons of the same energy.

See here, for example:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particles/synchrotron.html

 

[oldmisery]

Thanks to both for the reference, it's a great help.