Cherenkov RadiationCherenkov radiation is seen in this image as an eerie glow surrounding the core of a nuclear reactor. It is created when electrons are released through beta decay of radioactive materials which then radiate outwards from the source. When these move into a dielectric medium, which is an insulator that polarizes in an electric field, the electrons interact with the atoms and molecules that make up the medium. This has the effect of polarizing some of the molecules involved when the electron moves faster than the phase velocity of light in that substance due to the electron’s electromagnetic field interfering with that of the medium. The polarized state of the molecules is a higher energy state than the nonpolar form and as the molecule spontaneously flips from polarized to nonpolarized form it releases energy in the form of a photon. The color of the radiation is dependent on the amount of energy difference between the polar and nonpolar forms (along with the type of medium) with bigger energy differences emitting shorter wavelength photons.Special thanks to methicillin for mentioning this to me!

Cherenkov Radiation

Cherenkov radiation is seen in this image as an eerie glow surrounding the core of a nuclear reactor. It is created when electrons are released through beta decay of radioactive materials which then radiate outwards from the source. When these move into a dielectric medium, which is an insulator that polarizes in an electric field, the electrons interact with the atoms and molecules that make up the medium. This has the effect of polarizing some of the molecules involved when the electron moves faster than the phase velocity of light in that substance due to the electron’s electromagnetic field interfering with that of the medium. The polarized state of the molecules is a higher energy state than the nonpolar form and as the molecule spontaneously flips from polarized to nonpolarized form it releases energy in the form of a photon. The color of the radiation is dependent on the amount of energy difference between the polar and nonpolar forms (along with the type of medium) with bigger energy differences emitting shorter wavelength photons.

Special thanks to methicillin for mentioning this to me!

(Source: 14-billion-years-later)

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