Physics 214 Solution Set 4 Winter 2013

1. [Jackson, problem 12.3] A particle with mass m and charge e moves in a uniform, static,
electric eld

E
0
.
(a) Solve for the velocity and position of the particle as explicit functions of time,
assuming that the initial velocity v
0
was perpendicular to the electric eld.
Using eqs. (12.1) and (12.2) of Jackson and setting

B = 0, we have:
d p
dt
= e

E,
dW
dt
= ev

E,
where W is the total mechanical energy (usually called E, but we have renamed this W in
order to better distinguish it from the electric eld) and v is the particle velocity (which is
denoted as u by Jackson).
Clearly, the motion takes place in a plane containing the

E-eld. Without loss of
generality, we assume that

E = E x,
and assume that the motion takes place in the xy plane. By assumption, v

E = 0 at
t = 0, in which case p
x
= 0 at t = 0. Solving the equations,
dp
x
dt
= eE ,
dp
y
dt
= 0 ,
in follows that
p
x
= eEt , p
y
= p
0
,
where p
0
is a constant.
Using p = mv and E = mc
2
, it follows that
v =
c
2
p
W
=
c
2
p
_
| p|
2
c
2
+ m
2
c
4
.
Hence,
v
x
=
c
2
eEt
_
(p
2
0
+ e
2
E
2
t
2
)c
2
+ m
2
c
4
, v
y
=
c
2
p
0
_
(p
2
0
+ e
2
E
2
t
2
)c
2
+ m
2
c
4
.
Since v = dx/dt, it follows that
x = c
2
eE
_
tdt
_
W
2
0
+ (ceEt)
2
, y = c
2
p
0
_
dt
_
W
2
0
+ (ceEt)
2
, (1)
where W
2
0
= p
2
0
c
2
+ m
2
c
4
.
1
We shall dene the origin of the coordinate system to coincide with t = 0. Then
computing the integrals in eq. (1) yields
x(t) =
1
eE
_
_
W
2
0
+ (ceEt)
2
W
0
_
, y(t) =
p
0
c
eE
sinh
1
_
ceEt
W
0
_
. (2)
(b) Eliminate the time to obtain the trajectory of the particle in space. Discuss the
shape of the path for short and long times (dene short and long times).
We can eliminate t from eq. (2),
t =
W
0
ceE
sinh
_
eEy
p
0
c
_
.
Inserting this into the equation for x(t) and using the identity cosh
2
z sinh
2
z = 1, it
follows that
x =
W
0
eE
_
cosh
_
eEy
p
0
c
_
1
_
,
which is the equation for a catenary curve.
To describe the shape of the path for short and long times, we note that W
0
/(ceE)
has units of time. This we can dene short and long times relative to this quantity. For
t W
0
/(ceE), we have
_
W
2
0
+ (ceEt)
2
W
0
+
(ceEt)
2
2W
0
, sinh
1
_
ceEt
W
0
_

ceEt
W
0
.
Hence the approximate form of eq. (2) is
x(t)
c
2
eEt
2
2W
0
, y(t)
p
0
c
2
t
W
0
.
Solving for t and inserting the result back into the above equations yields
x
eEW
0
y
2
2p
2
0
c
2
.
Since v
0
= c
2
p
0
/W
0
, we can eliminate W
0
from the above expression to obtain,
x
eEy
2
2p
0
v
0
. (3)
That is, as short times, the motion is parabolic.
1
1
The result of eq. (3) also coincides with the non-relativistic limit (in which case p
0
= mv
0
). To verify
this assertion, we can perform a formal expansion in powers of 1/c. In this limit, W
0
mc
2
and
t
W
0
ceE

mc
eE
,
which is always true in the limit of c (which is equivalent to taking the non-relativistic limit).
2
For t W
0
/(ceE), eq. (2) yields:
x(t) ct , y(t)
p
0
c
eE
ln
_
2ceEt
W
0
_
.
In the latter case, we used:
sinh
1
z = ln
_
z +

z
2
+ 1
_
ln 2z , for z 1 .
Hence, to a good approximation,
y
p
0
c
eE
ln
_
2eEx
W
0
_
,
or equivalently,
x
W
0
2eE
exp
_
eEy
p
0
c
_
.
That is, at long times the motion is exponential.
2. [Jackson, problem 12.9] The magnetic eld of the earth can be represented approximately
by a magnetic dipole of magnetic moment M = 8.1 10
25
gauss-cm
3
. Consider the motion
of energetic electrons in the neighborhood of the earth under the action of this dipole eld
(Van Allen electron belts). [Note that

M points south.]
(a) Show that the equation for a line of magnetic force is r = r
0
sin
2
, where is the
usual polar angle (colatitude) measured from the axis of the dipole, and nd an expression
for the magnitude of

B along any line of force as a function of .
Let the z-axis point from the origin in the direction of the north pole. Then, the
magnetic dipole moment (which points south) is given by

M = M z, where M |

M|.
The vector potential is given in gaussian units by:

A(x) =

M x
|x|
3
=
1
r
3
det
_
_
x y z
0 0 M
r sin cos r sin sin r cos
_
_
=
M sin
r
2
( x sin y cos ) =
M sin
r
2

,
where r |x|. Then,

B =

A =
1
r
2
sin
det
_
_
_
_
_
_
r r

r sin

0 0 r sin A

_
_
_
_
_
_
,
3
where A

= M sin /r
2
. Evaluating the above determinant yields:

B =
2M
r
3
cos r
M sin
r
3

. (4)
Given the magnetic eld at every point in space,

B(x), one can consider a related
vector eld,

F(x) = q
m

B(x), which gives the force on a magnetic test charge q

m
due to
the magnetic eld at the point x.
2
If we choose our test charge to have q
m
= 1, then there
is no distinction between the lines of magnetic force and the magnetic eld lines. We
choose to follow this convention in what follows.
The lines of force follow a curve x(x), where the arclength s parameterizes the location
along the curve. By denition

B( x) is tangent to the lines of force. That is,
dx
ds
=

B
_
x(s)
_
B
, (5)
where B |

B|. To understand the normalization on the right hand side above, we note
that eq. (5) is equivalent to the three equations,
dx
ds
=
B
x
B
,
dy
ds
=
B
y
B
,
dz
ds
=
B
z
B
.
Squaring each equation and summing the three resulting equations yields
(ds)
2
= (dx)
2
+ (dy)
2
+ (dz)
2
,
which is the well-known formula for the dierential arclength.
It is convenience to work in spherical coordinates. Consider an innitesimal displace-
ment dx, where
x = r sin cos x + r sin sin y + r cos z .
By the chain rule,
dx =
x
dr
dr +
x
d
d +
x
d
d
= (cos sin x + sin sin y + cos z) dr + r (cos cos x + cos sin y sin z) d
+r (sin sin x + sin cos y) d
= r dr +

r d +

r sin d . (6)
2
Of course, magnetic charges do not exist in classical electromagnetism. But the concept of lines of
force were developed before this fact was understood. In the case of the electric eld, we do have

F = q

E,
so the terminology lines of force makes sense. In the case of magnetic elds, it would be better to refer to
the lines of force as the magnetic eld lines. Nevertheless, following Jackson, we retain the old terminology
in this problem.
4
The tangent to the curve x(s) then takes the form
dx
ds
= r
dr
ds
+

r
d
ds
+

r sin
d
ds
. (7)
Using eq. (4), it follows that the line of magnetic force is determined by the equation,
dx
ds
=

B(x(s))
B
=
2M
Br
3
cos r
M sin
Br
3

, (8)
where r, and are functions of s. Equating eqs. (7) and (8) yields three dierential
equations,
dr
ds
=
2M cos
Br
3
, r
d
ds
=
M sin
Br
3
,
d
ds
= 0 . (9)
Dividing the rst two equations above yields,
dr
d
=
2r cos
sin
,
which is easily integrated,
_
dr
r
= 2
_
cos
sin
d ,
Evaluating the integrals and imposing the condition r = r
0
at =
1
2
, we obtain
ln
_
r
r
0
_
= 2 lnsin ,
or equivalently
r = r
0
sin
2
, (10)
which we identify as the equation for the line of magnetic force. Note that the third
equation in eq. (9) implies that is a constant along the line of magnetic force.
Finally, we evaluate the magnitude of

B along the line of force. Since
B |

B| =
_
B
2
r
+ B
2

+ B
2

=
M
r
3
_
4 cos
2
+ sin
2
,
We simply plug in eq. (10) to obtain B as a function of along the line of magnetic force,
B() =
M
r
3
0

1 + 3 cos
2

sin
6

, (11)
after using sin
2
= 1 cos
2
in the numerator above.
(b) A positively charged particle circles around a line of force in the equatorial plane
with a gyration radius a and a mean radius R (where a R). Show that the particles
azimuthal position (east longitude) changes approximately linearly in time according to:
(t) =
0

3
2
_
a
R
_
2

B
(t t
0
) .
where
B
is the frequency of gyration at radius R.
5
Assuming that a R, we can use eq. (12.55) of Jackson to obtain an approximate
formula for the gradient drift velocity,
v
G

B
a
=
a
2B
2
_

B
_
, (12)
where a is the gyration radius and

B is the eld at the equator ( =
1
2
). Using eq. (4),
this means that

B =

M
r
3

r=R
=
M
R
3

B = r
B
r

r=R
=
3M
R
4
r , (13)
where R is the mean radius. In computing

B, we used the fact that B |

B| = M/r
3
and

= n

= r

r
+

1
r sin

,
where n

B = 0. Inserting the results of eq. (13) into eq. (12), we end up with
v
G
=

B
a
2
2
_
R
6
M
2
__
M
R
3
__
3M
R
4
_

r =
3
B
a
2
2R

. (14)
Finally, we can express v
G
in terms of the angular velocity d/dt by
v
G
= R
d
dt

.
Comparing this equation with eq. (14), we conclude that
d
dt
=
3a
2
2R
2

B
.
Solving this dierential equation, and imposing the initial condition (t
0
) =
0
, we end up
with
(t) =
0

3a
2
2R
2

B
(t t
0
) . (15)
(c) If, in addition to its circular motion of part (b), the particle has a small component
of velocity parallel to the lines of force, show that it undergoes small oscillations in around
=
1
2
with frequency = (3/

2)(a/R)
B
. Find the change in longitude per cycle of
oscillation in latitude.
As discussed in Chapter 12, section 4 of Jackson, the transverse velocity of gyration
is v

=
B
a [cf. discussion below eq. (12.61) of Jackson]. If in addition, we now include
the small component of the velocity parallel to the lines of magnetic force, we may use
eq. (12.72) of Jackson to write:
v
2

= v
2
0
v
2
0
B(z)
B
0
.
6
Here, the subscript 0 refers to the equator z = 0 (or equivalently to =
1
2
). In particular,
we can write v
2
0
= v
2
0
+ v
2
0
so that
v
2

= v
2
0
+ v
2
0
_
1
B(z)
B
0
_
. (16)
In part (a), we found that along the lines of magnetic force,
B() =
M
r
3
0

1 + 3 cos
2

sin
6

, (17)
where r
0
r( =
1
2
). In this problem, we are interested in the behavior of the particle at
the mean radius R, so we take r
0
= R. To compute B(z), we expand about z = 0. Since
z = Rcos , we expand about z = 0 by writing =
1
2
+ . Then,
z = Rcos = Rcos
_
1
2
+
_
= Rsin R .
Hence, z/R and
1
2
z/R. It follows that
cos cos
_

2

z
R
_
= sin
z
R
, sin sin
_

2

z
R
_
= cos
z
R
.
Using eq. (17),
B(z)
M
r
3
0
_
1 + 3 sin
2
(z/R)
cos
6
(z/R)

M
r
3
0
_
1 + 3z
2
/R
2
[1 z
2
/(2R
2
)]
6

M
r
3
0
_
1 +
9z
2
2R
2
_
.
Plugging this result into eq. (16) yields
v
2

(z) = v
2
0

9
2
_

B
a
R
_
2
z
2
. (18)
As discussed below eq. (12.72) of Jackson, this equation is equivalent to the conservation
of energy of a one-dimensional non-relativistic mechanics problem with total mechanical
energy,
E(z) =
1
2
mv
2

+ V (z) ,
where
V (z) =
1
2
m
_
9
2
B
a
2
2R
2
_
z
2
, (19)
is the potential energy of a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator. Indeed, eq. (18) is equiv-
alent to the statement that E(z) = E(0), i.e. conservation of energy. If we write the
harmonic oscillator potential in the standard form,
V (z) =
1
2
m
2
z
2
,
the eq. (19) implies that the eective oscillator frequency is given by
=
3

B
a
R
.
7
That is, the charged particle undergoes small oscillations in around =
1
2
with fre-
quency .
One period T of oscillation is given by
T =
2

=
2

2R
3
B
a
. (20)
Using the results of part (b) [cf. eq. (15)], the change of longitude is
=
3a
2
2R
2

B
t . (21)
Choosing t = T then yields the change of longitude per cycle of oscillation in latitude,
=

2a
R
.
(d) For an electron of 10 MeV kinetic energy at a mean radius of R = 3 10
7
m, nd
and a, and so determine how long it takes to drift once around the earth and how long
it takes to execute one cycle of oscillation in latitude. Calculate the same quantities for an
electron of 10 keV at the same radius.
Given M = 8.110
25
gauss-cm
3
and R = 310
9
cm, the magnetic eld at the equator is
B =
M
R
3
= 3 10
3
gauss .
Using eq. (12.39) of Jackson,

B
=
eB
mc
=
ecB
mc
2
. (22)
Although the last step above is rather trivial, it is convenient to write
B
in this form. The
numerical value of the quantity ec is given by
ec = (4.8 10
10
statcoulombs)(3 10
10
cm s
1
) = 14.4 statcoulombs cm s
1
. (23)
It is convenient to eliminate statcoulombs in favor of gauss. That is,
1 gauss = 1 dyne statcoulomb
1
= 1 erg cm
1
statcoulomb
1
.
Using 1 eV = 1.6 10
12
ergs, we can write:
1 gauss = (1.6 10
12
)
1
eV cm
1
statcoulomb
1
= 6.25 10
11
eV cm
1
statcoulomb
1
.
Hence, it follows that
1 statcoulomb = 6.25 10
11
eV cm
1
gauss
1
.
8
Inserting this result into eq. (23) yields
ec = 9 10
12
eV gauss
1
s
1
.
Therefore, the gyration frequency can be written as

B
= 9 10
12
s
1
B (gauss)
mc
2
(eV)
. (24)
For the electron, we have mc
2
= 511 keV. If the electron has a kinetic energy of K =
10 MeV, then E = mc
2
= mc
2
+ K, which yields K = ( 1)mc
2
. Hence,
= 1 +
K
mc
2
= 1 +
10 MeV
0.511 MeV
= 20.57 .
It follows from eq. (24) that

B
= 9 10
12
s
1

3 10
3
(20.57)(5.11 10
5
)
= 2.57 10
3
s
1
.
Next we use v v

=
B
a to determine a. Since 1, it follows that v c, so that
a =
c

B
=
3 10
10
cm s
1
2.57 10
3
s
1
= 117 km.
To drift once around the earth requires the longitude (or azimuthal angle ) to change by
2. Inserting = 2 in eq. (21) [the overall sign is not signicant here], we obtain
t =
4R
2
3a
2

B
=
4(3 10
9
cm)
2
3(1.17 10
7
cm)
2
(2.57 10
3
s
1
)
= 107 s .
Finally, the time it takes to execute one cycle of oscillation in latitude was obtained in
part (c) [cf. eq. (20)]:
T =
2

2R
3
B
a
=
2

2(3 10
9
cm)
3(1.17 10
7
cm)
2
(2.57 10
3
s
1
)
= 0.3 s .
For an electron with kinetic energy of 10 keV,
= 1 +
K
mc
2
= 1 +
10 keV
511 keV
= 1.02 . (25)
It follows from eq. (24) that

B
=
(9 10
12
s
1
)(3 10
3
)
(1.02)(5.11 10
5
)
= 5.18 10
4
s
1
.
To determine a, we rst compute v using eq. (25):
1
_
1 v
2
/c
2
= 1.02 =
v
c
= 0.195 .
9
Hence,
a =
v

B
=
(0.195)(3 10
10
cm s
1
)
5.18 10
4
s
1
= 1.13 km.
Finally, following the previous computation,
t =
4R
2
3a
2

B
=
4(3 10
9
cm)
2
3(1.13 10
5
cm)
2
(5.18 10
4
s
1
)
= 5.7 10
4
s ,
and
T =
2

2R
3
B
a
=
2

2(3 10
9
cm)
3(1.13 10
5
cm)
2
(5.18 10
4
s
1
)
= 1.52 s .
Note that in both computations above, we have a R, which implies that the gradient
of the magnetic eld is small over the orbit of the electrons. Hence, the approximations
introduced in Chapter 12, sections 4 and 5 of Jackson are valid for the charged particle
motions examined in this problem.
3. [Jackson, problem 12.11] Consider the precession of the spin of a muon, initially lon-
gitudinally polarized, as the muon moves in a circular orbit in a plane perpendicular to a
uniform magnetic eld

B.
(a) Show that the dierence of the spin precession frequency and the orbital gyration
frequency is
=
eBa
m

c
,
independent of the muons energy, where a =
1
2
(g 2) is the magnetic moment anomaly.
Find the equations of motion for the components of the spin along the mutually perpen-
dicular directions dened by the particles velocity, the radius vector from the center of the
circle to the particle, and the magnetic eld.
Our starting point is the Thomas equation, which Jackson writes in the following form
[cf. eq. (11.170) of Jackson]:
ds
dt
=
e
mc
s
__
g
2
1 +
1

_

B
_
g
2
1
_

+ 1
(

B)

_
g
2


+ 1
_

E
_
,
(26)
where the time derivative of the velocity vector is given by [cf. eq. (11.168) of Jackson]:
d

dt
=
e
mc
_

E +



B

E)
_
. (27)
For a particle moving in a circular orbit in a plane perpendicular to a uniform magnetic
eld

B, we have



B = 0, where v c

is the particle velocity. Hence, eqs. (26) and

(27) reduce to
ds
dt
=
e
mc
_
g
2
1 +
1

_
s

B,
dv
dt
=
e
mc
v

B, (28)
10
since by assumption there is no electric eld present (

E = 0). That is, eq. (28) can be

written in the form of precession equations,
ds
dt
= s ,
dv
dt
= v
B
,
where the spin precession frequency and the orbital gyration frequency
B
are given by:

e
mc
_
1 +
_
g 2
2
_

_

B,
B

e
mc

B.
The dierence of these two frequencies is

B
=
e
mc
_
g 2
2
_

B,
and the magnitude of this frequency dierence is given by
=
eBa
mc
, where a =
1
2
(g 2) .
To nd the equations of motion for the components of the spin vector, we rst decompose
this vector into longitudinal and transverse components with respect to the direction of the
velocity,



/. That is, s = s

+s

, where
s

= (

s)

, s

= s s

.
By construction,
s

= 0 . (29)
We rst work out ds

/dt.
ds

dt
=
d
dt
_
(

s)

_
=

d
dt
_

s
_
+s

dt
. (30)
Jackson gives the following result in his eq. (11.171),
d
dt
_

s
_
=
e
mc
s

_
_
g
2
1
_



B +
_
g
2

1

_

E
_
.
Setting

E = 0, we obtain
d
dt
_

s
_
=
eB
mc
_
g 2
2
_
s

B) . (31)
We also need to work out d

/dt.
d

dt
=
d
dt
_

_
=
1

dt

2
d
dt
. (32)
11
Using
d
dt
=
d
dt
_

_
1/2
=
1
2
_

_
1/2 d
dt
_

_
=
1
2
2

dt
=


d

dt
,
in eq. (32), we conclude that
d

dt
=
1

_
d

dt

dt
__
.
From eq. (28), we obtain
d

dt
=
e
mc

B.
Hence

d

/dt = 0, and we end up with

d

dt
=
eB
mc

B. (33)
Inserting eqs. (31) and (33) into eq. (30), we obtain
ds

dt
=
eB
mc
_
g 2
2
_
[s

B)]

+
eB
mc
s

(

B) .
Since s

(s

)

, it immediately follows that

s

(

B) = s

B.
We can further simplify the quantity [s

B)]

by using s

= 0 [cf. eq. (29)] and

B = 0. First, consider the triple cross product
s

B)
_
= [s

B)]

B)s

= [s

B)]

.
However,

(

B) =

(

B)

B =

B. Hence,
[s

B)]

= s

B.
Inserting eqs. (35) and (36) into eq. (34) then yields
ds

dt
=
eB
mc
__
g 2
2
_
s

+
1

B
Using this result, we can evaluate ds

/dt.
ds

dt
=
d
dt
_
s s

_
=
eB
mc
_
g
2
1 +
1

_
(s

+s

)

B =
eB
mc
__
g 2
2
_
s

+
1

B,
12
which simplies to
ds

dt
=
eB
mc
__
g 2
2
_
s

+
1

B
Finally, we need to further decompose s

into components along the direction of the

magnetic eld and along the radius vector r which points to the center of the circular path of
the moving spin. In light of eq. (27) [with

E = 0], dv/dt

B. But for circular motion,
r

= 0 and the acceleration dv/dt points radially into the origin, i.e. dv/dt r. It
follows that r =

B

, and we conclude that the unit vectors {

B,

, r} form a mutually
orthogonal right-handed triad of vectors. Thus, we can write:
s

s
B
+s
r
, where s
B
(s

B)

B and s
r
(s r) r . (34)
Note that
ds
B
dt
=
_

B
ds
dt
_

B = 0 , (35)
since

B is time-independent by assumption and

B
ds
dt


B (s

B) = 0 ,
in light of eq. (28). Thus, s
B
is a constant in time, from which it follows that
ds
r
dt
=
d
dt
(s

+s
B
) =
ds

dt
. (36)
Hence, the equations of motion for the components of the spin vector are:
ds
B
dt
= 0 ,
ds
r
dt
=
eB
mc
__
g 2
2
_
s

+
1

s
r
_

B,
ds

dt
=
eB
mc
__
g 2
2
_
s
r
+
1

B,
after using s
B

B = (s

B)

B

B = 0.
(b) For the CERN Muon Storage Ring, the orbit radius is R = 2.5 meters and B =
17 10
3
gauss. What is the momentum of the muon? What is the time dilation factor ?
How many periods of precession T = 2/ occur per observed laboratory mean lifetime
of the muons? [Relevant data: m

= 105.66 MeV,
0
= 2.2 10
6
s, a /(2) where
1/137.]
For circular motion,
a =
dv
dt
=
v
2
R
r . (37)
13
Since the circular motion is in a plane that is perpendicular to the magnetic eld

B, it
follows that

B, v and r are mutually orthogonal vectors. Moreover, eqs. (12.38) and (12.39)
of Jackson yield
dv
dt
=
e
mc
v

B. (38)
Thus, if

B points in the z-direction, then v = v

and the circular motion is clockwise in

the xy plane. Combining eqs. (37) and (38), it follows that
mv =
eBR
c
, (39)
which we recognize as the relativistic momentum of the muon, p

. Using eq. (12.42) of

Jackson, we can rewrite eq. (39) as
3
p

(MeV/c) = 3 10
4
BR (gauss-cm) .
Hence,
p

= (3 10
4
)(1.7 10
4
)(250) MeV/c = 1.275 10
3
MeV/c .
The -factor is
=
E
mc
2
=
(p
2
c
2
+ m
2
c
4
)
1/2
mc
2
=
_
p
2
m
2
c
2
+ 1
_
1/2
.
The muon rest energy is mc
2
= 105.66 MeV. Hence,
=
_
1 +
(1.275 10
3
)
2
(105.66)
2
_
1/2
= 12.11 .
The number of periods of precession, T = 2/, occurring per observed mean muon
lifetime,
0
= (2.2 10
6
s), is given by
4

0
T
=

0

2
=

0
eBa
2mc
=

2

0
va
2R
,
where eq. (39) was used to arrive at the nal result above. Since 1, we can approximate
v c. In addition, we take
a =
1
2
(g 2)

2
, where
1
137
,
as predicted at lowest non-trivial order in quantum electrodynamics. Hence,

0
T


2

0
c
4
2
R
=
(12.11)
2
(2.2 10
6
s)(3 10
10
cm s
1
)
4
2
(250 cm)(137)
= 7.156 .
3
The factor of 3 10
4
arises as follows. In gaussian units, e = 4.8 10
10
esu and 1 MeV= 1.6
10
6
ergs. Hence, the conversion factor between ergs and MeV is 4.8 10
10
/1.6 10
6
= 3 10
4
.
4
Note that in the laboratory frame, the observed muon lifetime is given by
0
, where
0
is the muon
lifetime in the muon rest frame.
14
(c) Express the dierence frequency in units of orbital rotation frequency and com-
pute how many precessional periods (at the dierence frequency) occur per rotation for a
300 MeV muon, a 300 MeV electron, a 5 GeV electron (this last typical of the e
+
e

storage
ring at Cornell).
NOTE: The energy values above correspond to the total relativistic energies.
For a 300 MeV muon,
=
E
mc
2
=
300
105.66
= 2.839 ,
and
=
eBa
mc
=
B
a

B

2
= 3.3 10
3

B
.
One revolution occurs in time t = 2R/v. In this time, the number of periods of precession,
T = 2/, is given by
t
T
=
_
2R
v
__

2
_
=
R
v
.
We can rewrite the above result using eq. (39), which yields
R
v
=
mc
eB
=
1

B
.
Hence, for a 300 MeV muon, we have
t
T
=

2
= 3.3 10
3
.
For a 300 MeV electron, we use m
e
c
2
= 511 keV to obtain
=
300
0.511
= 587 .
Hence,
t
T
=

2
= 0.682 .
Finally, for a 5 GeV electron, we have
=
5000
0.511
= 9.785 10
3
.
It follows that
t
T
=

2
= 11.37 .
15
4. [Jackson, problem 14.4] Using the Lienard-Wiechert elds, discuss the time-averaged
power radiated per unit solid angle in nonrelativistic motion of a particle with charge e,
moving:
(a) along the z axis with instantaneous position z(t) = a cos
0
(t) ,
(b) in a circle of radius R in the xy plane with constant angular frequency
0
.
Sketch the angular distribution of the radiation of the radiation and determine the total
power radiated in each case.
(a) Case 1: Non-relativistic motion of a particle with charge e moving along the z axis
with instantaneous position z(t) = a cos
0
(t) .
We make use of eq. (14.20) of Jackson, which is relevant for non-relativistic motion,
dP
d
=
e
2
4c

n
_
n
d

dt
_

2
, (40)
where

=
v
c
=
1
c
dx
dt
.
In this case, we have
x(t) = z a cos
0
t ,
which yields
d

dt
= z
a
2
0
c
cos
0
t .
Working out the absolute square of the triple product in eq. (40),

n
_
n
d

dt
_

2
=

n
_
n
d

dt
_

dt

2
=

dt

_
n
d

dt
_
2
(41)
=
a
2

4
0
c
2
cos
2

0
t
_
1 ( n z)
2

=
a
2

4
0
c
2
cos
2

0
t sin
2
.
In obtaining the nal result above, we chose to work in a coordinate system in which the
origin corresponds to the instantaneous position of the charged particle, and the unit vector
n has polar angle and azimuthal angle with respect to the z-axis,
n = x sin cos + y sin sin + z cos . (42)
The time-averaged power is easily obtained by noting that
5
cos
2

0
t =
1
2
.
5
To compute the time-average of cos
2

0
t, note that the time averages satisfy cos
2

0
t = sin
2

0
t,
and cos
2

0
t + sin
2

0
t = 1.
16
Hence, it follows that
_
dP
d
_
=
e
2
a
2
0

4
0
8c
3
sin
2
. (43)
In Figure 1, the angular distribution of the radiated power is exhibited as a polar plot.
Figure 1: A polar plot of the angular distribution of the power radiated by a charged particle
moving non-relativistically along the z axis with instantaneous position z(t) = a cos
0
(t). The
angular distribution is given by eq. (43) and is proportional to sin
2
. This plot was created with
Maple 15 software.
Integrating over the solid angle yields the total radiated power,
P =
e
2
a
2

4
0
3c
3
.
(b) Case 2: Non-relativistic motion of a particle with charge e moving in a circle of
radius R in the xy plane with constant angular frequency
0
.
For circular motion in the xy plane, the trajectory of the particle is given by
x(t) = R( x cos
0
t + y sin
0
t) .
Then, we easily compute
d

dt
=
1
c
d
2
x
dt
2
=

2
0
c
x(t) .
We again choose to work in a coordinate system in which the origin corresponds to the
instantaneous position of the charged particle, and the unit vector n given by eq. (42) has
polar angle and azimuthal angle with respect to the z-axis. Consequently,
n
d

dt
=

2
0
R
c
(cos
0
t sin cos + sin
0
t sin sin ) .
17
Evaluating the absolute square of the triple cross product as in part (a) [cf. eq. (41)], we
obtain:

n
_
n
d

dt
_

2
=

4
0
R
2
c
2
_
1 sin
2
(cos cos
0
t + sin sin
0
t)
2

=

4
0
R
2
c
2
_
1 sin
2
cos
2
(
0
t )

.
Using eq. (40), it follows that
dP
d
=
e
2

4
0
R
2
4c
3
_
1 sin
2
cos
2
(
0
t )

.
The time-averaged power is easily obtained by noting that cos
2
(
0
t ) =
1
2
. Employing
the trigonometric identity, 1
1
2
sin
2
=
1
2
(1 + cos
2
) , it follows that
_
dP
d
_
=
e
2

4
0
R
2
8c
3
_
1 + cos
2

_
. (44)
In Figure 2, the angular distribution of the radiated power is exhibited as a polar plot.
Figure 2: A polar plot of the angular distribution of the power radiated by a charged particle
moving non-relativistically in a circle of radius R in the xy plane with constant angular fre-
quency
0
. The angular distribution is given by eq. (44) and is proportional to 1 + cos
2
. This
plot was created with Maple 15 software.
Integrating over solid angles yields the total radiated power,
P =
2e
2

4
0
R
2
3c
3
.
18
5. [Jackson, problem 14.5] A nonrelativistic particle of charge ze, mass m and kinetic
energy E makes a head-on collision with a xed central force eld of nite range. The
interaction is repulsive and described by a potential V (r), which becomes greater than E
at close distances.
(a) Show that the total energy radiated is given by
W =
4
3
z
2
e
2
m
2
c
3
_
m
2
_

r
min

dV
dr

2
dr
_
V (r
min
) V (r)
,
where r
min
is the closest distance of approach in the collision.
Consider a particle with kinetic energy E at t = that is initially an innite distance
away and is headed in a radial direction toward the origin. Because the potential V (r) is
repulsive and becomes greater than E at close distances, there is a distance of closest
approach, r
min
, where the particles radial velocity drops to zero. At this point, the particle
collides head on with the central force eld and is turned around. It now travels back
along its original radial path until it reaches its original starting point (an innite distance
away) at t = .
If the particle does not radiate, then we can use energy conservation to compute the
instantaneous velocity of the particle at all points along its trajectory. In particular, the
conservation of the sum of the kinetic and potential energy yields
E =
1
2
m[v(r)]
2
+ V (r) , for r
min
r < , (45)
since the potential is assumed to be of nite range which means that lim
r
V (r) = 0. At
the point of closes approach to the origin, v(r
min
) = 0. Hence, it follows from eq. (45) that
E = V (r
min
) . (46)
Writing v(r) = dr/dt, we can solve for the velocity using eq. (45),
v(t) =
dr
dt
=
_
2
m
_
E V (r) , (47)
where we employ the minus sign as the particle moves toward the origin and the plus sign as
the particle moves away from the origin. The acceleration can be obtained by dierentiating
eq. (47) with respect to t. However, a more direct computation uses Newtons second law,

F = ma =

V (r) = r
dV
dr
,
which yields
a = r
1
m
dV
dr
. (48)
During the period of acceleration, the particle radiates and hence loses energy, W.
Thus, it is not justied to ignore this energy loss in the energy balance equation given in
19
eq. (45). Nevertheless, if W E, then it is justied in rst approximation to ignore the
radiated energy loss in deriving the acceleration given in eq. (48).
6
Thus, we shall assume
that one can neglect the energy loss due to radiation and check for consistency at the end
of the computation. In this case, we can use the Larmor formula [cf. eq. (14.22) of Jackson]
for the instantaneous power emitted by a nonrelativistic, accelerated charge,
P =
2
3
z
2
e
2
c
3
|a|
2
=
2
3
z
2
e
2
m
2
c
3

dV
dr

2
. (49)
where eq. (48) has been used for the acceleration. To compute W, we rst consider the
energy emitted by the radiation from the initial position of the particle at r = until the
point of closest approach to the origin, r
min
. Then,
7
W =
_
P
_
r(t)
_
dt =
_
r
min

P(r)
dt
dr
dr =
_
m
2
_

r
min
P(r)
dr
E V (r)
. (50)
Since we are neglecting the energy loss in computing the instantaneous acceleration of the
particle, the energy loss of the particle as it moves from the distance of closest approach back
out to innity again yields eq. (50). Hence the total energy radiated during < t <
is just twice that of eq. (50),
W = 2
_
m
2
_

r
min
P(r)
dr
V (r
min
) V (r)
,
after employing eq. (46). Finally, we substitute for P using eq. (49), which yields
W =
4
3
z
2
e
2
m
2
c
3
_
m
2
_

r
min

dV
dr

2
dr
_
V (r
min
) V (r)
, (51)
To justify this computation, we would have to show that
W
1
2
mv
2
0
, (52)
where E
1
2
mv
2
0
and v
0
is the initial velocity at time t = . Since the motion is non-
relativistic, we have v
0
c, and one can check that for for reasonable potentials, eq. (52)
is satised [cf. eq. (56)].
(b) If the interaction is a Coulomb potential V (r) = zZe
2
/r, show that the total energy
radiated is
W =
8
45
zmv
5
0
Zc
3
,
6
To properly take the radiation loss into account, we must address the question of radiation reaction,
which is treated in Chapter 16 of Jackson. It turns out that this topic involves numerous subtleties, not
all of which are completely understood. For further details, check out the rst few sections of Chapter 16.
7
Note that we use the minus sign in eq. (47) when the particle moves toward the origin. This minus
sign is then used to reverse the limits of integration in eq. (50).
20
where v
0
is the velocity of the charge at innity.
Substituting V (r) = zZe
2
/r into eq. (51) yields
W =
4
3
z
2
e
5
m
2
c
3
(zZ)
3/2
_
m
2
_

r
min
dr
r
4
1
_
1
r
min

1
r
. (53)
It is more convenient to rewrite this as
W =
4
3
z
2
e
5
m
2
c
3
(zZ)
3/2
_
m
2
_

r
min
dr
r
7/2
1
_
r
r
min
1
.
We now change variables by dening
u =
r
r
min
1 .
Then dr = r
min
du and r = (u + 1)r
min
. Hence,
_

r
min
dr
r
7/2
1
_
r
r
min
1
=
1
r
5/2
min
_

0
du

u(u + 1)
7/2
.
We make one more change of variables by dening u = x
2
. Then du = 2xdx = 2

udu so
that 2dx = du/

u. Hence,
_

r
min
dr
r
7/2
1
_
r
r
min
1
=
2
r
5/2
min
_

0
dx
(x
2
+ 1)
7/2
. (54)
To evaluate this integral, we rst consider the well-known result,
_
dx
(x
2
+ a
2
)
3/2
=
x
a
2

x
2
+ a
2
.
The desired integral can be obtained by dierentiating twice with respect to a. Alterna-
tively, one can use an integral table to obtain
_
dx
(x
2
+ a
2
)
7/2
=
1
a
6
_
x

x
2
+ a
2

2
3
x
3
(x
2
+ a
2
)
3/2
+
1
5
x
5
(x
2
+ a
2
)
5/2
_
.
Hence,
_

0
dx
(x
2
+ 1)
7/2
=
x

x
2
+ 1

2
3
x
3
(x
2
+ 1)
3/2
+
1
5
x
5
(x
2
+ 1)
5/2

0
= 1
2
3
+
1
5
=
8
15
.
21
It follows that
_

r
min
dr
r
7/2
1
_
r
r
min
1
=
16
15r
5/2
min
.
Plugging this result back into eq. (53), we end up with
W =
4
3
z
2
e
5
m
2
c
3
(zZ)
3/2
_
m
2
16
15r
5/2
min
. (55)
We can simplify this expression by writing E =
1
2
mv
2
0
, where v
0
is the initial velocity of
the particle at t = . Using eq. (46),
1
2
mv
2
0
= V (r
min
) =
zZe
2
r
min
.
Solving for r
min
and inserting this result back into eq. (55) yields our nal result,
W =
64
45
z
2
e
5
m
2
c
3
(zZ)
3/2
_
m
2
_
mv
2
0
2zZe
2
_
5/2
=
8
45
zmv
5
0
Zc
3
.
The condition of eq. (52) then implies that
16z
45Z
_
v
0
c
_
3
1 , (56)
which is always satised for non-relativistic motion [assuming that z/Z O(1)].
22