Charged particle reflection from an artificially structured boundary that produces a spatially periodic magnetostatic field

Abstract

Charged particle reflection away from an artificially structured boundary is studied by computer simulation. The artificially structured boundary produces a spatially periodic static magnetic field such that the spatial period of the field is much smaller than the dimensions of a source of incident charged particles. A planar artificially structured boundary comprised of a sequence of parallel wires is considered. The wires carry currents in alternating directions and produce the magnetic field. A classical trajectory Monte Carlo study is reported. The motion of charged particles that approach the artificially structured boundary at small or grazing angles of incidence transverse to the wires is simulated. The conditions under which the charged particles reflect away from the boundary without reaching it are determined, and the results are fit to obtain analytical expressions. The results are not dependent on the sign of charge of the incident particles.