Week 9 Synchrotron Radiation

Question 1

briefly define synchrotron radiation

Answer 1

it is ultra-relativistic cyclotron radiation

Question 2

define synchrotron cooling time

Answer 2

ratio of kinetic energy of the electron producing synchrotron radiation to the rate by which it is radiating energy

Question 3

what is the energy gain each time an ultra-relativistic particle passes a non-relativistic shock equation

Answer 3

β = E’/E = 1 + v/c

Question 4

what happens to the probability of a particle passing through the shockfront and why

Answer 4

becomes less and less likely each time due to their being a finite probability

Question 5

what is the main source of synchrotron radiation

Answer 5

supernova remnants

Question 6

where is diffuse particle acceleration effective

Answer 6

shock fronts of supernova remnants

Question 7

what does a higher max lorentz factor mean

Answer 7

the max energy within a distribution will be higher

Question 8

what is a cosmic ray

Answer 8

ultra relativistic particles undergo various particle interactions within the atmosphere producing a particle shower and corresponding Cherenkov flash due to difference in speed

Question 9

define Compton scattering

Answer 9

scattering of radiation by a free electron

Question 10

what happens during the process of Compton scattering

Answer 10

the wavelength of the photon will change