Smith-Purcell radiation from rough surfaces

Abstract

Radiation of a charged particle moving parallel to an inhomogeneous surface is considered. Within a single formalism periodic and random gratings are examined. For the periodically inhomogeneous surface we derive new expressions for the dispersion relation and the spectral-angular intensity. In particular, for a given observation direction two wavelengths are emitted instead of one wavelength of the standard Smith-Purcell effect. For a rough surface we show that the main contribution to the radiation intensity is given by surface polaritons induced on the interface between two media. These polaritons are multiply scattered on the roughness of the surface and convert into real photons. The spectral-angular intensity is calculated and its dependence on different parameters is revealed. © 2010 The American Physical Society.