The Larmor nutation

The classical non-relativistic problem of the motion of a charged particle in an external central force field and a weak uniform magnetic field is revisited to show that the motion of the kinetic angular momentumL = r × p of the particle, in the so-called Larmor approximation, is not a simple preces...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pramāṇa 1997-03, Vol.48 (3), p.775-786
Main Authors: Srinivasa Rao, K N, Gopala Rao, A V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Approximation
Charged particles
Mathematical analysis
Nutation
Precession
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Summary:The classical non-relativistic problem of the motion of a charged particle in an external central force field and a weak uniform magnetic field is revisited to show that the motion of the kinetic angular momentumL = r × p of the particle, in the so-called Larmor approximation, is not a simple precession but is actually a composite motion involving precession as well as a high frequency nutation. The precession-nutation motion ofL is discussed in the Larmor approximation when the Larmor-frame-orbit of the charged particle is an ellipse (or a circle) for the case of the two central forces namely the Coulomb and the Hooke-law-force, which are the only two central forces known to permit closed orbits.
ISSN:0304-4289
0973-7111
DOI:10.1007/BF02845611