Cherenkov Radiation

Compiled by Alexis Jacob (ajacob30)

Cherenkov radiation, named for Soviet Scientist Pavel A. Cherenkov, is a fascinating phenomena that occurs when charges move faster than light through an optically transparent medium. One commonly recognized example of Cherenkov radiation is in nuclear reactors which have a characteristic blue glow as a result.

The Main Idea

The blue radiation in nuclear reactors occurs when electrons from the reactor travel at speeds greater than light in the water, a dielectric medium, surrounding the reactor. The charged and highly energetic particles then polarize atoms in the dielectric medium; as the electrons return to their ground states, they emit a weak blue light. The blue light occurs only when the velocity of the initial particle is greater than the velocity of light in the medium through constructive interference. If the velocity of the particle is less than the velocity of light in the medium, any light is destroyed by destructive interference.

Electric Field of Capacitor

A Mathematical Model

For Cherenkov radiation to occur, the minimum threshold energy for an electron to radiate in water is 260keV. In addition, only high-energy nuclei with a charge greater than or equal to six are capable of producing Cherenkov light.

A Computational Model

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Cherenkov radiation is now used in a Cherenkov counter to detect energetic particles.

History

Put this idea in historical context. Give the reader the Who, What, When, Where, and Why. The phenomena was initially discovered by Mallet in 1929. However, the radiation was studied by Soviet physicist Pavel A. Cherenkov from 1934-1938. It was later explained by Ilya M. Frank and Igor Y. Tamm in 1937.

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