(《地球科学概论》)particle_motion.pdf

Single particle motion and trapped particles • Gyromotion of ions and electrons • Drifts in electric fields • Inhomogeneous magnetic fields • Magnetic and general drift motions • Trapped magnetospheric particles • Motions in a magnetic dipole field - planetary radiation belts Gyration of ions and electrons I The equation of motion for a particle in a magnetic field is: Taking the dot product with v yields (for E = 0) the equation : A magnetic field can not change the particle‘s energy. If B = Be ,and z B is uniform, then υz is constant; taking the second derivative yields: We introduced the gyrofrequency, ωg = qB/m, with charge q and mass m of the particle. Gyration of ions and electrons II The previous equation for a harmonic oscillator has the solution: The equation describes a circular orbit around the field with gyroradius, r , g and gyrofrequency, ω . The orbit‘s center (x ,y ) is called the g uiding g 0 0 center. The gyration represents a microcurrent, which creates a field opposite to the background one. This behaviour is called diamagnetic eff ect. Gyration of ions and electrons III Helicoidal ion orbit in a uniform magnetic field If one includes a constant speed parallel to the field, the particle motion is three-dimensional and looks like a helix . The p itch angle of the helix or particle velocity with respect to the field depends on the ratio of perpendicular to parallel velocity components. Electric drifts I Adding an electric field to to the magnetic field results in electric drif t motion, the nature of which depends on whether the field is nonuniform in space or variable