CHERENKOV EFFECT FOR AN ELECTRIC-DIPOLE

The Cherenkov effect is usually studied for the case of a point partic le. In this work we shall analyze, using two methods, this effect for a point electric dipole. We obtain the radiated energy per unit path l ength per unit frequency, for three different cases: a point electric dipole along the direction of movement, a point electric dipole orthog onal to the direction of motion and a point electric dipole with arbit rary orientation. We compare our results with the case of point partic le and particles with structure.