Guiding center motion of charged particles in EM field

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Korybut
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Charged particle in EM field
Hello!

I am trying to figure how one can deduce guiding center motion equation according to Hazeltine and Waelbroeck "The Framework of Plasma physics". They suggest the following:
To solve equations
##\frac{d\vec{r}}{dt}=\vec{v},\;\; \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}=\frac{e}{\epsilon m}(\vec{E}+\vec{v}\times\vec{B})##
Here ##\epsilon## is book-keeping dimensionless variable. The lowest possible order of ##\epsilon## is ##\epsilon^{-1}##
they introduce new variables
##\vec{r}(t)=\vec{R}(t)+\epsilon \vec{\rho}(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)##
##\vec{v}(t)=\vec{U}(t)+\vec{u}(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)##
Here ##\gamma## is new independent variable describing the phase of gyrating particle. Functions ##\vec{\rho}## and ##\vec{u}## has zero mean value, i.e.
##\langle \vec{\rho}\rangle = \int_0^{2\pi} \vec{\rho}(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)d\gamma=\langle \vec{u}\rangle= \int_0^{2\pi} \vec{u}(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)d\gamma=0##
There is also equation for time evolution of gamma
##\frac{d\gamma}{dt}=\epsilon^{-1}\omega_{-1}(\vec{R},\vec{U},t)+\omega_0(\vec{R},\vec{U},t)+...##
Expansion for other variables looks as follows
##\vec{U}(\vec{R},t)=\vec{U}_0(\vec{R},t)+\epsilon \vec{U}_1(\vec{R},t)+...##
##\vec{\rho}(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)=\vec{\rho}_0(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)+\epsilon \vec{\rho}_1(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)+...##
##\vec{u}(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)=\vec{u}_0(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)+\epsilon \vec{u}_1(\vec{R},\vec{U},t,\gamma)+...##

Next they plug their new variable in the original equations and taking the average with respect to ##\gamma## obtain the so called solubility conditions. For example equations of motion up to ##\epsilon^{-1}## order looks as
##\omega_{-1} \frac{\partial \vec{u}_0}{\partial \gamma}-\frac{e}{m} \vec{u}_0\times B=\frac{e}{m}(E+U_0\times B)##
taking the ##\gamma## average according to the book one obtains
##E+\vec{U}_0\times B=0##
I don't get how one should rigorously deal with this average for example
##\langle \omega_{-1}\frac{\partial \vec{u}_0}{\partial \gamma} \rangle ##
According to the authors it should be zero but I am confused. While differentiating with respect to ##t## I differentiate ##\gamma## however taking avarage ##\frac{d\gamma}{dt}## is supposed to be silent. How this is justified?
 

FAQ: Guiding center motion of charged particles in EM field

What is guiding center motion in the context of charged particles in an electromagnetic field?

Guiding center motion refers to the averaged motion of charged particles in an electromagnetic field, ignoring the rapid gyration around magnetic field lines. It simplifies the complex trajectories by focusing on the smooth, large-scale motion of the particle's center of gyration.

Why is the concept of guiding center motion important in plasma physics?

The concept is important because it allows scientists to predict and understand the behavior of charged particles in plasmas without dealing with the computational complexity of their full trajectories. It provides insights into particle confinement, transport, and overall plasma stability.

How is the guiding center velocity of a charged particle determined?

The guiding center velocity is determined by averaging the particle's motion over one gyration period. It includes contributions from the electric field (E), magnetic field (B), and any gradients in these fields. The key components are the E x B drift, the grad-B drift, and the curvature drift.

What are the main forces acting on the guiding center of a charged particle?

The main forces include the Lorentz force, which combines the electric and magnetic forces, and additional forces due to gradients in the magnetic field and curvature of the magnetic field lines. These forces result in drifts such as the E x B drift, grad-B drift, and curvature drift.

Can guiding center motion be applied to all types of charged particles and electromagnetic fields?

Guiding center motion is a useful approximation for charged particles in strong and slowly varying electromagnetic fields where the gyroradius is much smaller than the characteristic length scales of the field variations. It is less accurate for weak fields or when the field varies rapidly on the scale of the gyroradius.

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