Forest UCM PnCP

Charged Particle in uniform B-Field

Consider a charged particle moving the x-y plane in the presence of a uniform magnetic field with field lines in the z-dierection.

[math]\vec{v} = v_x \hat i + v_y \hat j[/math]

[math]\vec{B} = B \hat k[/math]

Lorentz Force

[math]\vec{F} = q \vec{E} + q\vec{v} \times \vec{B}[/math]

Note

the work done by a magnetic field is zero if the particle's kinetic energy (mass and velocity) don't change.

[math]W = \Delta K.E.[/math]

No work is done on a charged particle forced to move in a fixed circular orbit by a magnetic field (cyclotron)

[math]\vec{F} = m \vec{a} = q \vec{v} \times \vec{B} = q\left ( \begin{matrix} \hat i & \hat j & \hat k \\ v_x & v_y &0 \\ 0 &0 & B \end{matrix} \right )[/math]

[math]\vec{F} = q \left (v_y B \hat i - v_x B \hat j \right )[/math]

Apply Newton's 2nd Law

[math]ma_x = qv_yB[/math]

[math]ma_y = -qv_x B[/math]

[math]ma_z = 0[/math]

Motion in the z-direction has no acceleration and therefor constant (zero) velocity.

Motion in the x-y plane is circular

Let

[math]\omega=\frac{qB}{m}[/math] = fundamental cyclotron frequency

Then we have two coupled equations

[math]\dot{v}_x = \omega v_y[/math]

[math]\dot{v}_y = - \omega v_x[/math]

determine the velocity as a function of time

let

[math]v^* = v_x + i v_y[/math] = complex variable used to change variables

[math]\dot{v}^* = \dot{v}_x + i \dot{v}_y[/math]

[math]= \omega v_y + i (-\omega v_x)[/math]

[math]= -i \omega \left ( \omega v_x +i\omega v_y \right )[/math]

[math]= -i \omega v^*[/math]

[math]\Rightarrow[/math]

[math]v^* = Ae^{-i\omega t}[/math]

the complex variable solution may be written in terms of [math]\sin[/math] and [math]\cos[/math]

[math]v_x +i v_y = A \left ( \cos(\omega t) - i \sin ( \omega t) \right )[/math]

The above expression indicates that [math]v_x[/math] and [math]v_y[/math] oscillate at the same frequency but are 90 degrees out of phase. This is characteristic of circular motion with a magnitude of [math]v_{\perp}[/math] such that

[math]v^* = v_{\perp}e^{-i\omega t}[/math]

Determine the position as a function of time

To determine the position as a function of time we need to integrate the solution above for the velocity as a function of time

[math]v^* = v_{\perp}e^{-i\omega t}[/math]

Using the same trick used to determine the velocity, define a position function using complex variable such that

[math]x^* = x + i y[/math]

Using the definitions of velocity

[math]x^* = \int v^* dt = \int v_{\perp}e^{-i\omega t} dt[/math]

[math]= \frac{v_{\perp}}{i \omega} e^{-i\omega t} [/math]

The position is also composed of two oscillating components that are out of phase by 90 degrees

[math]x^* = x + i y= \frac{v_{\perp}}{i \omega} e^{-i\omega t} = -i\frac{v_{perp}}{\omega} \left ( \cos(\omega t) - \sin(\omega t) \right )[/math]

The radius of the circular orbit is given by

[math]r = \left | x^* \right | = \frac{v_{perp}}{\omega} = \frac{mv_{perp}}{qB}[/math]

[math]r = \frac{p}{qB}[/math]

[math]p=qBr[/math]

The momentum is proportional to the charge, magnetic field, and radius

http://hep.physics.wayne.edu/~harr/courses/5200/f07/lecture10.htm

http://www.physics.sfsu.edu/~lea/courses/grad/motion.PDF

http://physics.ucsd.edu/students/courses/summer2009/session1/physics2b/CH29.pdf

http://cnx.org/contents/77faa148-866e-4e96-8d6e-1858487a520f@9

Forest_Ugrad_ClassicalMechanics