Anomalous photon emission from a solid

Abstract

The solution of the wave equation for electron in a solid can be formally singular on some line. The singularity is smeared out within the distance $\sim 10^{-11}{\rm cm}$ due to electron ``vibrations'' caused by its interaction with photons. Because of this localization, the large momentum uncertainty results in the local increase of the electron kinetic energy $\sim 1~{\rm MeV}$. This energy enhancement is compensated by the local reduction of zero point energy of photons which can be considered as a potential well producing anomalous electron binding. The electron in this well gets to its bottom emitting photons of the total energy $\sim 1~{\rm MeV}$ (anomalous emission). These effects can occur in a solid when its surface is bombarded by ions with the energy $\sim 1~{\rm keV}$. Photons, produced inside the solid, escape from it and can be detected in addition to the usual Bremsstrahlung of incident ions.