bremsstrahlung

American  

[brem-shtrah-luhng] / ˈbrɛmˌʃtrɑ ləŋ /

noun

Physics.

1. radiation emitted by a charged particle when accelerating, as x-rays emitted by an electron that is scattered by a nucleus.

---

bremsstrahlung British  

/ ˈbrɛmzˌʃtrɑːləŋ /

noun

1. the radiation produced when an electrically charged particle, especially an electron, is slowed down by the electric field of an atomic nucleus or an atomic ion

---

Etymology

Origin of bremsstrahlung

1940–45; < German, equivalent to Brems ( e ) brake + Strahlung radiation

Example Sentences

This process releases energy in a phenomenon known as bremsstrahlung, or "braking radiation."

From Science Daily • Dec. 28, 2025

The smooth part of the spectrum is bremsstrahlung, while the peaks are characteristic of the anode material.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

In one process, the deceleration of electrons produces x rays, and these x rays are called bremsstrahlung, or braking radiation.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The smooth part of the spectrum is bremsstrahlung radiation, while the peaks are characteristic of the anode material.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The broad range of x-ray energies in the bremsstrahlung radiation indicates that an incident electron’s energy is not usually converted entirely into photon energy.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015