The problem of relativistic electron transition radiation on a thin ideally conducting plate is considered. The space-time evolution of the electromagnetic field, which arises before and after the electron’s traverse of the plate, is
analyzed. It is shown that at the moment of time t after the electron’s traverse of the plate for distances r > ct the reflected field is different from zero and entirely
coincides with the Coulomb field of oppositely charged particle which should move in the direction of reflection. For distances r < ct the total field equals zero. A similar picture of field evolution takes place in the opposite direction. The potential jump at r = ct entirely defines the characteristics of backward transition radiation. The analogy in the development of the space-time picture of the electromagneticfield evolution in the processes of transition radiation and bremsstrahlung at the momentary scattering of the relativistic electron to a large angle is discussed
