TRANSITION RADIATION MEASUREMENTS AT DISTANCES FROM THE TRANSITION POINT COMPARABLE TO THE FORMATION LENGTH

The spatial distribution of the electromagnetic held excited by a rela tivistic particle crossing: the surface of a metal is studied. It is s hown that the held of the uniformly moving charge must also be taken i nto account during measurements at distances comparable to the path le ngth for formation of the radiation. Expressions describing the effect of the self-held of the charge on the transition radiation field are derived. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.