Charged-Particle Motion in Electromagnetic Fields Having at Least One Ignorable Spatial Coordinate
Astrophysics
2009-10-30 v1
Abstract
We give a rigorous derivation of a theorem showing that charged particles in an arbitrary electromagnetic field with at least one ignorable spatial coordinate remain forever tied to a given magnetic-field line. Such a situation contrasts the significant motions normal to the magnetic field that are expected in most real three-dimensional systems. It is pointed out that, while the significance of the theorem has not been widely appreciated, it has important consequences for a number of problems and is of particular relevance for the acceleration of cosmic rays by shocks.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9808103,
title = {Charged-Particle Motion in Electromagnetic Fields Having at Least One Ignorable Spatial Coordinate},
author = {Frank C. Jones and J. Randy Jokipii and Matthew G. Baring},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9808103},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
7 pages, emulateapj format, including 1 eps figure, to appear in The Astrophysical Journal, Dec. 10 1998 issue