Published November 2004 | Version v1
Journal article

Quantum behavior of a charged particle in an axial magnetic field

  • 1. DAMTP, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge University, Cambridge (United Kingdom)
  • 2. Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo (Brazil)
  • 3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York (United States)

Description

We study some aspects of the quantum theory of a charged particle moving in a time-independent, unidirectional magnetic field. When the field is uniform, we make a few clarifying remarks on the use of angular momentum eigenstates and momentum eigenstates with the diamagnetism of a free electron gas as an example. When the field is nonuniform but weakly varying, we discuss both perturbative and nonperturbative methods for studying a quantum mechanical system. As an application, we derive the quantized energy levels of a charged particle in a Helmholtz coil, which go over to the usual Landau levels in the limit of a uniform field

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. A
Journal Volume
70
Journal Issue
5
Journal Page Range
p. 053408-053408.6
ISSN
1050-2947
CODEN
PLRAAN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
36087235
Subject category
S74: ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
ANGULAR MOMENTUM; CHARGED PARTICLES; DIAMAGNETISM; EIGENSTATES; ELECTRON GAS; ENERGY LEVELS; MAGNETIC FIELDS; PERTURBATION THEORY; QUANTUM MECHANICS; USES
Descriptors DEC
MAGNETISM; MECHANICS

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2004 The American Physical Society