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Kirk T. McDonald
Joseph Henry Laboratories, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
(November 19, 2000)
Problem
Solution
v
mv 2
= e B.
R
c
(1)
eRB
.
mc2
(2)
The electron is being accelerated by the electric eld that is induced by the changing
magnetic ux. Applying the integral form of Faradays law to the circle of radius R, we have
(ignoring the sign)
R2 B ave
,
(3)
2RE = =
c
c
and hence,
RB ave
,
(4)
E =
2c
The rate of change of the electrons energy E due to E is
dE
eRB ave
= F v ecE =
,
dt
2
1
(5)
eRB ave
,
2
(6)
which integrates to
eRBave
.
2mc2
Comparing with eq. (2), we nd the required condition on the magnetic eld:
=
B=
Bave
.
2
(7)
(8)
As the electron accelerates it radiates energy at rate given by the Larmor formula in the
rest frame of the electron,
dE
2e2p2
2e2a2
=
(9)
dt
3c3
3c3
Because E and t are both the time components of 4-vectors their transforms from the rest
frame to the lab frame have the same form, and the rate dE/dt is invariant. However,
acceleration at right angles to velocity transforms according to a = 2 a. Hence, the rate of
radiation in the lab frame is
dE
2e2 4 a2
2e4 2 B 2
=
=
,
dt
3c3
3m2c3
(10)
max =
3m2 c3 RB ave
=
4e3 B 2
3R B ave Bcrit
4c B B
(11)
3R Bcrit
,
4c B
(12)
where = e2 /
hc = 1/137 is the ne structure constant, Bcrit = m2c3 /e
h = 4.41013 G is the
so-called QED critical eld strength, and is the characteristic cycle time of the betatron
such that B ave = B/ . For example, with R = 1 m, = 0.03 sec (30 Hz), and B = 104 G,
we nd that max 200, or Emax 100 MeV.
We have ignored the radiation due to the longitudinal acceleration of the electron, since
in the limiting case this acceleration ceases.
References
[1] D. Iwanenko and I. Pomeranchuk, On the Maximal Energy Attainable in a Betatron,
Phys. Rev. 65, 343 (1944),
http://puhep1.princeton.edu/~mcdonald/examples/accel/iwanenko_pr_65_343_44.pdf