Larmor radius: Difference between revisions
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The Larmor radius is the radius of gyration of a charged particle moving in a magnetic field. | The Larmor radius is the radius of gyration of a charged particle moving in a magnetic field. | ||
Balancing the Lorentz Force | Balancing the [[:Wikipedia:Lorentz Force|Lorentz Force]] | ||
:<math>\vec F = q \vec v \times \vec B</math> | :<math>\vec F = q \vec v \times \vec B</math> | ||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
:<math>F = \frac{m v^2}{r}</math> | :<math>F = \frac{m v^2}{r}</math> | ||
one immediately obtains | |||
:<math>r_L = \frac{m}{q} \frac{v_\perp}{B}</math> | :<math>r_L = \frac{m}{|q|} \frac{v_\perp}{B}</math> | ||
where only the perpendicular component of the velocity enters. | where only the perpendicular component of the velocity (with respect to the magnetic field) enters. | ||
== See also == | |||
* [[:Wikipedia:Gyroradius]] | |||
Latest revision as of 10:57, 14 August 2010
The Larmor radius is the radius of gyration of a charged particle moving in a magnetic field. Balancing the Lorentz Force
with the centripetal force, whose magnitude is
one immediately obtains
where only the perpendicular component of the velocity (with respect to the magnetic field) enters.