Cyclotron Frequency of a Hydrogen Atom in a Field B

  • Level: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter jackychenp
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Cyclotron Frequency
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
1 reply · 2K views
jackychenp
Messages
26
Reaction score
0
Hi All,

For a hydrogen atom in the field B, torque on the electron is [itex]\tau =\mu Bsin\theta =\omega_pJsin\theta[/itex] => [itex]\omega_p=gqB/(2m)[/itex] If we only consider orbital motion (ignore spin), then g=1. So [itex]\omega_p=qB/(2m)[/itex]. (It follows the steps from Feynman's lectures VII section 34-3)
For a single electron in the field, [itex]qvB=v^2m/r[/itex] => [itex]\omega=qB/m[/itex]. I know these two cases are different, but why the results look the same (only a factor of 2 different). Is there any connection between them, or just coincidence?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Getting the dimensions to come out right requires the ratio qB/m.