The polarization of bremsstrahlung from radiative ionization

Based on inverse kinematics the close relation between radiative electron capture to the projectile continuum, calculated within the impulse approximation, and electron–nucleus bremsstrahlung is shown. Particular emphasis is laid on the short-wavelength limit corresponding to cusp-electron emission in the target frame of reference. Differential cross sections and the degree of photon polarization are calculated for the coincident emission of electron and photon. Coplanar and non-coplanar geometries are considered, and the polarization is compared with that obtained from experiments on the elementary bremsstrahlung process and on radiative electron capture to bound states.