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]]


:<math>\vec F = q \vec v \times \vec B</math>
:<math>\vec F = q \vec v \times \vec B</math>

Revision as of 18:32, 19 February 2010

The Larmor radius is the radius of gyration of a charged particle moving in a magnetic field. Balancing the Wikipedia: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.