Mechanisms for the Production and Absorption of Cosmic X-Rays

This chapter summarizes the processes that can produce and absorb X-rays in a cosmic setting. After presenting some basic concepts of classical and quantum theory, specific processes are discussed. These include cyclotron and synchrotron radiation, electron scattering, black body radiation, bremsstrahlung, radiative and dielectronic recombination and line emission following collisional excitation of ions by electrons.