Journal of the Korean Physical Society, Vol. 32, No. 1, January 1998, pp.

3034

Relativistic Cyclotron Motion in a Polarized Electric Field

Sang Wook Kim, Duck-Hee Kwon and Hai-Woong Lee

Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology,
Taejon 305-701

(Received 20 June 1997)

The relativistic cyclotron motion in a uniform magnetic field and in a transverse time-periodic
electric field is studied, with particular attention to qualitative differences in the nature of the
motion under linearly and circularly polarized electric fields. Theoretical analysis based on the
Lagrangian formulation of the cyclotron motion allows a direct comparision for the two polarizations
and confirms the earlier observation that the cyclotron motion is always integrable when the electric
field is circularly polarized, but is not under a linearly polarized electric field.

I. INTRODUCTION in mutually orthogonal uniform magnetic and oscillating

The study of the relativistic dynamics of charged parti-
cles moving in electric and magnetic fields is of prime im-
portance in accelerator and plasma physics, where such
devices as the cyclotron, tokamak, and free-electron laser
are frequently encountered [1,2]. The recent surge of in-
terest in this study stems partly from theoretical and
experimental findings that such particles are capable of
exhibiting chaotic behavior. Systems that have recently
been found to exhibit chaos include electrons undergoing
relativistic cyclotron motion [38], electrons moving at
relativistic velocities through a wiggler in a free-electron
laser device [915], and particles oscillating at relativistic
velocities under the influence of a harmonic or nonhar-
monic potential [16,17]. These studies are not just of aca-
demic interest; identifying the cause of and finding a way
of suppressing or controlling such relativistic chaos is
directly linked to the practical problem of improving the
performance of the device being considered, whether it
be the cyclotron, the tokamak or the free-electron laser.
Relativistic cyclotron motion is a subject of interest also
in atomic physics, as it occurs, for example, in the Pen-
ning trap. Despite the fact that one usually deals with
only weakly relativistic electrons in the Penning trap,
some interesting relativistic effects, such as bistable hys-
teresis, were observed to occur in the cyclotron motion
there [18,19].
Recent investigations of relativistic cyclotron motion
have revealed that the qualitative nature of the motion
can be quite different, depending upon the polarization
state of the electric field. In particular, it was shown
that the relativistic motion of a charged particle moving
electric fields is integrable when the electric field is circu-
larly polarized [20]. On the other hand, the relativistic
cyclotron motion can become chaotic if the electric field
is linearly polarized [8]. Thus, the question concerning
the role played by the polarization state of the electric
field in cyclotron motion naturally arises.
The main pupose of the present work is to provide a
theoretical analysis of the effect of the polarization state
of the electric field upon the integrability of cyclotron
motion. We formulate the problem in such a way that
the two cases of linearly and circularly polarized electric
fields can be compared directly and analyzed in a uni-
fied fashion. Also considered is the cyclotron motion in
the nonrelativistic limit. It is shown that nonrelativistic
cyclotron motion is integrable, regardless of whether the
electric field is circularly or linearly polarized.
II. THEORY OF CYCLOTRON MOTION
Let us consider a particle of mass m and charge q mov-
ing in a uniform magnetic field B = B0 ez and a time-
periodic electric field E assumed to be orthogonal to B.
From here on the vector ei denotes a unit vector along the
i direction. Below, we analyze the motion of the particle
for the cases when the electric field is circularly polarized
and when it is linearly polarized. In both cases, no force
exits along the z direction; thus, the motion can be con-
sidered to occur in the xy plane. We use Gaussian units
throughout.

E-mail : hwlee@laputa.kaist.ac.kr, Fax : 82-42-869-2510 1. Circularly Polarized Electric Field

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Relativistic Cyclotron Motion in a Polarized Electric Field Sang Wook Kim et al. -31-

When the electric field is circularly polarized, it can be the Lagrangian given by Eq. (5) is invariant under the
written as transformation

E = E0 cos wt ex + E0 sin wt ey . (1) tt , x x + y, y y x, (14)
w
The scalar and the vector potentials, and A, can be the third constant of motion can be determined as
taken to be
H
px y py x + = const. (15)
= xE0 cos wt yE0 sin wt, (2) w
With the constants of motion as found above, one can
yB0 xB0
A= ex + ey . (3) show that the nonrelativistic motion being considered is
2 2 integrable [20].
Although our main interest is in the relativistic motion, We now wish to consider the relativistic motion for
we first consider the motion in the nonrelativistic limit. which the Lagrangian is given by
The Lagrangian in the nonrelativistic region is given by r
2 v2 q
q L = mc 1 2 q + A v. (16)
L = T q + A v (4) c c
c
For the particle being considered, the Lagrangian be-
where T is the kinetic energy. For the particle being comes
considered, we can immediately write r
2 x2 + y 2
1 L = mc 1 + qE0 x cos wt
L = m(x2 + y 2 ) + qE0 x cos wt c2
2 qB0
qB0 +qE0 y sin wt (y x xy), (17)
+qE0 y sin wt (y x xy). (5) 2c
2c
and the canonical momenta
The canonical momenta are then given by r
x2 + y 2 qB0
qB0 qB0 px = mx/ 1 2
y,
px = mx y, py = my + x, (6) c 2c
2c 2c r
x2 + y 2 qB0
and the Hamiltonian by py = my/ 1 2
+ x. (18)
c 2c
2 2
The Hamiltonian can easily be obtained as
 
1 qB0 1 qB0
H = px + y + py x
2m 2c 2m 2c
r  qB0 2 2  qB0 2 2
qE0 x cos wt qE0 y sin wt. (7) H = m2 c4 + px + y c + py x c
2c 2c
Hamiltons equations of motion take the form qE0 x cos wt qE0 y sin wt. (19)

dx 1

qB0
 Hamiltons equations of motion now become
= px + y , (8)
dt m 2c dx (px + qB2c y)c
0 2
=q , (20)
  dt m2 c4 +(px + qB 0
y)2 c2 +(p qB0 x)2 c2
dy 1 qB0 2c y 2c
= py x , (9)
dt m 2c
dy (py qB2c x)c
0 2

dpx qB0

qB0
 =q , (21)
= py x + qE0 cos wt, (10) dt m2 c4 +(px + qB 0
y)2 c2 +(p qB0 x)2 c2
2c y 2c
dt 2mc 2c
 
dpy qB0 qB0
= px + y + qE0 sin wt. (11) dpx qB0 c(py qB
2c x)
0

dt 2mc 2c = q
dt 2 m2 c4 +(px + qB 2 2 qB0 2 2
2c y) c +(py 2c x) c
0

Equations (8)-(10) immediately suggest that we have two

constants of motion: +qE0 cos wt, (22)
qB0 qE0
px y sin wt = const, (12) dpy qB0 c(px + qB
2c y)
0
2c w = q
dt 2 m2 c4 +(px + qB 2 2 qB0 2 2
2c y) c +(py 2c x) c
0
qB0 qE0
py + x+ cos wt = const. (13)
2c w +qE0 sin wt. (23)
Following Bourdier et al. [20], a third constant of mo- As in the nonrelativistic case, we immediately see from
tion can be found using Noethers theorem. Noting that Eqs. (20)-(23) that there are two constants of motion
-32- Journal of the Korean Physical Society, Vol. 32, No. 1, January 1998

given by Eqs. (12) and (13). At the same time, the La-
grangian of Eq. (17) is invariant under the transforma-
tion of Eq. (14), which indicates that Eq. (15) is valid
here. We can, thus, conclude that the relativistic mo-
tion, as well as the nonrelativistic motion, is integrable if
the electric field is circularly polarized.
2. Linearly Polarized Electric Field
Rather than trying to find a third contant of motion, we
found it convenient to go to a rotating frame of reference
and to look at the motion in that frame.
In order to describe the motion in a rotating frame,
we need first to express Eqs. (26)-(28) in terms of the
cylindrical coordinates r and . Since the scalar and
the vector potentials are given in terms of the cylindrical
coordinates by
= rE0 sin cos wt, (35)

We now assume that the electric field is linearly polar- B0 r

A= e , (36)
ized and choose the direction of polarization to be the y 2
direction,
we obtain
E = E0 cos wt ey . (24) 1 qB0 2
L= m(r2 + r2 2 ) + qE0 r sin cos wt + r ,(37)
The scalar potential can be taken as 2 2c

= yE0 cos wt (25) qB0 2

pr = mr, p = mr2 + r , (38)
2c
while the vector potential A is still given by Eq. (3).
Let us first consider the nonrelativistic motion. The  2
Lagrangian, the canonical momenta, and the Hamilto- 1 1 qB0 2
H = pr 2 + p r
nian can easily be obtained as 2m 2mr2 2c
1 qB0 qE0 r sin cos wt. (39)
L= m(x2 + y 2 ) + qE0 y cos wt (y x xy),(26)
2 2c We now consider a frame of reference rotating clock-
qB0 qB0 wise with an angular velocity of, say, . The Lagrangian
px = mx y, py = my + x, (27) in this rotating frame can be expressed as
2c 2c
1 2
2 2 L = (r + r2 ( )2 ) + qE0 r sin ( t) cos wt
1

qB0 1

qB0 2
H = px + y + py x qB0 2
2m 2c 2m 2c + r ( ). (40)
2c
qE0 y cos wt, (28)
Equation (40) takes a particularly simple form if we
and Hamiltons equations of motion as choose
qB0
 
dx 1 qB0
= px + y , (29) = , (41)
dt m 2c 2mc
  which corresponds to the Larmor frequency, i.e., the an-
dy 1 qB0 gular frequency of the rotational motion of the charged
= py x , (30)
dt m 2c particle due to the action of the magnetic field B = B0 ez .
  Substituting Eq. (41) into Eq. (40), we obtain
dpx qB0 qB0
= py x , (31) 1 1
dt 2mc 2c L = m(r2+r2 2 ) mr2 2+qE0 r sin (t) cos wt.(42)
  2 2
dpy qB0 qB0
= px + y + qE0 cos wt. (32) Going back to the Cartesian coordinates in this rotating
dt 2mc 2c frame, Eq. (42) becomes
It then is immediately clear that two constants of motion 1 1
are given by L = m(x2 + y 2 ) m(x2 + y 2 )2
2 2
qB0 +qE0 (y cos t cos wtx sin t cos wt). (43)
px y = const, (33)
2c Equation (43) indicates that, when viewed in the rotating
qB0 qE0 frame of reference with given by Eq. (41), the motion
py + x sin wt = const. (34) being considered appears as driven harmonic oscillations
2c w
in the x and the y directions, with the amplitude of the
In this case, however, the Lagrangian given by Eq. (26) driving force of frequency of w being modulated at a
is not invariant under the transformation of Eq. (14). frequency of . The motion viewed in this rotating frame
Relativistic Cyclotron Motion in a Polarized Electric Field Sang Wook Kim et al. -33-

is, thus, regular, and so is the motion in the laboratory motion is different, depending on the polarization state
frame. of the electric field.
Finally, we wish to consider the relativistic motion. One can perhaps gain some physical insight into this
The Lagrangian of the particle is given in the laboratory polarization effect by considering the motion in a rotating
frame by frame of reference. For the case of a circularly polarized
r electric field, one may choose to view the particle motion
2 x2 + y 2 qB0 in the frame rotating with the electric field at frequency
L = mc 1 +qE0 y cos wt (y xxy).(44)
c2 2c w. The particle motion is then essentially equivalent to
that in the presence of static electric and magnetic fields.
As in the relativistic case, this Lagrangian is not invari- For the case of a linearly polarized electric field, there, of
ant under the tranformation of Eq. (14); thus, we again course, does not exist a frame rotating with the electric
attempt to view the motion in a rotating frame of refer- field. Nevertheless, if the motion remains nonrelativistic,
ence. Expressing first the Lagrangian in the larboratory one may choose to view the motion in a frame rotating
frame in terms of cylindrical coordinates, we have at the Larmor frequency = qB0 /2mc . In this rotating
s frame, the electric field is still time dependent, but our
r2 +r2 2 qB0 2 analysis in Sec. II shows that in the rotating frame, the
L = mc2 1 2
+qE0 r sin cos wt+ r .(45)
c 2c combined effect of the electric and the magnetic fields
can be represented by forced harmonic oscillations. If the
In a frame rotating at a frequency of, say, , Eq. (45) motion is relativistic, however, the rotational frequency
becomes = qB0 /2mc in the presence of a constant magnetic
s field B0 is no longer constant, and the above argument
r2 + r2 ( )2 for the nonrelativistic case breaks down.
L = mc2 1
c2 Finally, we mention that there is no rigorous way of
qB0 2 proving that a given system is nonintegrable, except to
+qE0 r sin (t) cos wt+ r (). (46) show via numerical computation that the system exhibits
2c
chaotic behavior. A computation of Poincare phase-space
Unlike the case of the nonrelativistic motion, no particu- maps, which was performed recently on a particle under-
lar value of exists for which Eq. (46) reduces to a sim- going relativistic cyclotron motion, has clearly indicated
ple form. Mathematically, this is due to the fact that the the occurrence of chaotic behavior when the electric field
kinetic-energy term in the Lagrangian involves a more is linearly polarized [8]. On the other hand, when the
complicated expression in the relativistic case. Physi- electric field is circularly polarized, it can be rigorously
cally, this originates from the fact that the rotational proven that the system is integrable by finding the con-
frequency of the particle in the presence of a constant stants of motion, as was done earlier [20]. The signif-
magnetic field B0 in the relativistic case is given by icance of the present work lies in the fact that the two
cases of linearly and circularly polarized electric fields are
qB0
= (47) analyzed within the same framework, which allows one to
2mc compare directly the two cases and to understand clearly
and is no longer a constant; it depends on p the velocity the role played by the polarization state of the electric
of the particle through the quantity = 1/ 1 v 2 /c2 . field.
One can, thus, conclude that no rotating frame of refer-
ence exists in which the motion of the particle appears ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
simple. It, therefore, is not surprising that the rela-
tivistic cyclotron motion for the case when the electric This research was supported by the Korea Science and
field is linearly polarized can display chaotic behavior. Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) under Grant No. 961-
0202-011-2, by the Ministry of Science and Technology
(MOST) of Korea, and by a Korea Advanced Institute of
III. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION Science and Technology (KAIST) research grant.

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