Abstract
The motion of a charged particle subject to two invariants, its speed and magnetic moment, is applied to derive the number density ( n) distribution of a set of such particles in a trapping magnetic ( B) tube of force. The distribution is made to relate to that in an element (where B = B′) of the tube where the density of particles per steradian of direction of motion is supposed isotropic or nearly so. It is found that at points of the tube where B > B′, n is constant and where B > B′, n is proportional to B. This is true for a wide range of conditions, viz. when the velocity distribution at B′ is independent of pitch angle. The results are applicable to those geomagnetically trapped particles satisfying the above conditions. The whistler medium may be described by the theory.
Published Version
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