Cherenkov radiation

Cherenkov radiation
Light produced by charged particles when they pass through an optically transparent medium at speeds greater than the speed of light in that medium.

For example, when electrons from a nuclear reactor travel through shielding water, they do so at a speed greater than that of light through water and they displace some electrons from the atoms in their path. This causes emission of electromagnetic radiation that appears as a weak bluish-white glow. The phenomenon is named for Pavel A. Cherenkov (1904–1990), who discovered it; he shared a 1958 Nobel Prize with Igor Y. Tamm (1895–1971) and Ilya M. Frank (1908–1990), who interpreted the effect.

* * *

      light produced by charged particles when they pass through an optically transparent medium at speeds greater than the speed of light in that medium. Devices sensitive to this particular form of radiation, called Cherenkov detectors, have been used extensively to detect the presence of charged subatomic particles moving at high velocities.

      Cherenkov radiation, when it is intense, appears as a weak bluish white glow in the pools of water shielding some nuclear reactors. The Cherenkov radiation in cases such as this is caused by electrons from the reactor traveling at speeds greater than the speed of light in water, which is 75 percent of the speed of light in a vacuum. The energetic charged particle traveling through the medium displaces electrons in some of the atoms along its path. The electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by the displaced atomic electrons combines to form a strong electromagnetic wave analogous to the bow wave caused by a power boat traveling faster than the speed of water waves or to the shock wave (sonic boom) produced by an airplane traveling faster than the speed of sound in air. The phenomenon was discovered by the Soviet physicist Pavel A. Cherenkov (Cherenkov, Pavel Alekseyevich) in 1934 and was explained by Ilya M. Frank (Frank, Ilya Mikhaylovich) and Igor Y. Tamm (Tamm, Igor Yevgenyevich) in 1937.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cherenkov radiation — glowing in the core of the Advanced Test Reactor …   Wikipedia

  • Cherenkov radiation — [tʃə rɛŋkɒf] (also Cerenkov radiation) noun Physics electromagnetic radiation emitted by particles moving in a medium at speeds faster than that of light in the same medium. Origin 1940s: named after the Soviet physicist Pavel Cherenkov …   English new terms dictionary

  • Cherenkov radiation — /tʃəˌrɛŋkɒf reɪdiˈeɪʃən/ (say chuh.rengkof raydee ayshuhn) noun visible radiation emitted by charged particles when they travel through a transparent medium at a velocity greater than the velocity of light in that medium. Also, Cerenkov radiation …  

  • cherenkov radiation — var. of CERENKOV RADIATION …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cherenkov , Pavel Alekseyevich — Cherenkov (or Cerenkov ), Pavel Alekseyevich (1904–1990) Soviet physicist Cherenkov came from a peasant family in Voronezh, Russia, and was educated at the university there, graduating in 1928. From 1930 he was a member of the Lebedev Institute… …   Scientists

  • Cherenkov — is a common Russian surname, which may refer to: Fyodor Cherenkov (born 1959), Soviet and Russian footballer Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov (1904–1990), Soviet physicist and a recipient of the Nobel Prize in physics in 1958 See also Cherenkov… …   Wikipedia

  • Radiation — Radiation, as in physics, is energy in the form of waves or moving subatomic particles emitted by an atom or other body as it changes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state. Radiation can be classified as ionizing or non ionizing… …   Wikipedia

  • Cherenkov effect — or Cherenkov radiation, = Cerenkov effect. (Cf. ↑Cerenkov effect) …   Useful english dictionary

  • radiation — radiational, adj. /ray dee ay sheuhn/, n. 1. Physics. a. the process in which energy is emitted as particles or waves. b. the complete process in which energy is emitted by one body, transmitted through an intervening medium or space, and… …   Universalium

  • Cherenkov, Pavel Alekseyevich — ▪ Soviet physicist Cherenkov also spelled  Čerenkov   born July 15 [July 28, New Style], 1904, Novaya Chigla, Russia died Jan. 6, 1990, U.S.S.R.       Soviet physicist who shared the 1958 Nobel Prize for Physics with fellow Soviet scientists Igor …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”