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Bremsstrahlung photon polarization observables in Bethe-Heitler process: Calculation in an exact kinematics

Yu. M. Bystritskiy1,* and V. A. Zykunov1,2,†

  • *Contact author: bystr@theor.jinr.ru
  • †Contact author: vladimir.zykunov@cern.ch, zykunov@jinr.ru
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Phys. Rev. D 113, 096012 – Published 18 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/nfqr-znhr

Abstract

The effects of polarization transfer from the initial electron to the bremsstrahlung photon in electron-nucleus scattering (Bethe-Heitler process) are considered. The calculation is carried out without the assumption of smallness of the electron mass. A detailed comparison with previous well-known works is made. Some issues related to neglecting the electron mass are shown and commented on. The results are applicable to the modeling of polarized cross sections at energies down to the electron mass scale.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 096012– Published 18 May, 2026
  • Received 25 September 2025
  • Accepted 25 March 2026
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