Basic features of a charged particle dynamics in a laser beam with static axial magnetic field

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, the trajectory and kinetic energy of a charged particle, subjected to interaction from a laser beam containing an additionally applied external static axial magnetic field, have been analyzed. We give the rigorous analytical solutions of the dynamic equations. The obtained analytical solutions have been verified by performing calculations using the derived solutions and the well known Runge-Kutta procedure for solving original dynamic equations. Both methods gave the same results. The simulation results have been obtained and presented in graphical form using the derived solutions. Apart from the laser beam, we show the results for a maser beam. The obtained analytical solutions enabled us to perform a quantitative illustration, in a graphical form of the impact of many parameters on the shape, dimensions and the motion direction along a trajectory. The kinetic energy of electrons has also been studied and the energy oscillations in time with a period equal to the one of a particle rotation have been found. We show the appearance of, so-called, stationary trajectories (hypocycloid or epicycloid) which are the projections of the real trajectory onto the (x, y) plane. Increase in laser or maser beam intensity results in the increase in particle’s trajectory dimension which was found to be proportional to the amplitude of the electric field of the electromagnetic wave. However, external magnetic field increases the results in shrinking of the trajectories. Performed studies show that not only amplitude of the electric field but also the static axial magnetic field plays a crucial role in the acceleration process of a charged particle.At the authors of this paper best knowledge, the precise analytical solutions and theoretical analysis of the trajectories and energy gains by the charged particles accelerated in the laser beam and magnetic field are lacking in up to date publications. The authors have an intention to clarify partly some important aspects connected with this process. The presented theoretical studies apply for arbitrary charged particle and the attached figures-for electrons only.