LUMINESCENCE OF ALUMINUM-INDUCED BY FAST PROTONS

We present the results of an anomalously high intensity of continuous radiation in the ultraviolet region, emitted during the bombardment of a thin aluminium foil by fast protons, with energies up to 3 MeV. The intensity of this radiation greatly exceeds that of silver, although it is known, that the latter previously showed the maximum radiation l evel among metals. The radiation was observed from the back surface on ly (where the beam leaves the target foil). The luminescence of a silv er foil was investigated under similar conditions. This paper also rep orts the spectrum intensity from the beam-foil interaction for the two metals from both sides of the foil. A comparison of these results has been performed as well. The luminescence from silver resembles transi tion radiation. The physical mechanism of generating of ultraviolet ra diation from aluminium foil is discussed and it is concluded that it i s neither transition radiation nor bremsstrahlung.