Energy of an electron in a betatron

  • Thread starter Thread starter DeIdeal
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electron Energy
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on determining the energy acquired by an electron in a betatron during one acceleration period in a varying magnetic field. The magnetic flux density increases linearly, and the electron's energy is derived from the induced electric field, as the magnetic force does no work. Initial calculations yielded an equation, E = q πr² B_max/T, which lacked mass dependency and seemed unreasonable. Subsequent edits proposed a revised approach using the relationship between magnetic flux and velocity, leading to a more plausible equation, E = 2/3 q²/m B_max² π r², which includes mass and correct units. The conversation highlights the importance of accurately modeling the magnetic field's effect on particle acceleration in a betatron.
DeIdeal
Messages
141
Reaction score
16
I might've figured this out by myself already, check the EDITs.

Homework Statement

"Charged particles are accelerated in a betatron in a varying magnetic field so that the trajectory of the particles is a circle with a set radius and the varying field is perpendicular to the circle. Determine the energy acquired by an electron during one acceleration period (one full circle) when the period lasts for time T and magnetic flux density increases from zero to its maximum value B_max linearly during one acceleration period."

Homework Equations



Induction: ℰ = -dΦ/dt <=> ∫ E·dr = -d/dt ( ∫ B·dA )
Work done by a force: W = ∫ F·dr

(I should probably use these three as well, but I don't see why, check my comments)

Newton's second law: F = ma
a = v² / r u_r
Lorentz force: F = qv × B

The Attempt at a Solution

I chose a coordinate system where the positive direction for u_φ is counterclockwise and positive k[/B] points upwards.

As the increase in B is linear, magnetic flux density can be written as a function of time so that

B(t) = -(B_max/T) t k

Where the direction of B comes from Lorentz Force / Right-hand-rule, as the force of the magnetic field must point towards the center of the circle.

The electron aqcuires its energy only from the induced electric field since F_B does no work (as it's perpendicular to the velocity).

From Faraday-Henry law

-dΦ/dt = ∫ E·dr

-d( ∫ B·dA )/dt = 1/q ∫ F·dr // B||dA, B<0, A>0

-qA d(-|B|)/dt = W

E = q πr² B_max/T

(It seems I made a mistake with the direction of B after all, or should it be q = |q| here?)

...

And that seems all too simple. Still, I don't see where I made the mistake, so I'd appreciate if someone were to point me to the right direction.

We were actually given advice on how to approach the problem. It included deriving an equation for the velocity of the electron. This can obviously be done from the Lorentz force equation and F_B = m a_n, but I see no reason for doing this. Nor would I know how to actually use v(t). Should I do something like P = dW/dt = F_E v?

The units are correct, q πr² B_max/T gives Joules, but the equation doesn't seem reasonable. It has no mass dependency which seems a bit unusual considering a betatron is a particle accelerator.

EDIT: Wait, is it ∫ B · dA = B(t) A_circle that's incorrect? Should it be something like, umm,

dA = 2 π r dr = 2 π r v(t) dt ? And then what, integrate B(t)v(t) over T and do d/dT or something like that?

EDIT2: Changing ∫ B · dA to 2 π r ∫ B(t)v(t) dt gave me an equation that seems more reasonable (it has a mass dependency, correct units and q² so it's positive):

E = 2/3 q²/m B_max² π r²

Unless someone points out any mistakes with my reasoning, I think I'm going with this.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
DeIdeal said:

Homework Statement




"Charged particles are accelerated in a betatron in a varying magnetic field so that the trajectory of the particles is a circle with a set radius and the varying field is perpendicular to the circle. Determine the energy acquired by an electron during one acceleration period (one full circle) when the period lasts for time T and magnetic flux density increases from zero to its maximum value B_max linearly during one acceleration period."

Homework Equations



Induction: ℰ = -dΦ/dt <=> ∫ E·dr = -d/dt ( ∫ B·dA )
Work done by a force: W = ∫ F·dr

(I should probably use these three as well, but I don't see why, check my comments)


I chose a coordinate system where the positive direction for u_φ is counterclockwise and positive k[/B] points upwards.

As the increase in B is linear, magnetic flux density can be written as a function of time so that

B(t) = -(B_max/T) t k

Where the direction of B comes from Lorentz Force / Right-hand-rule, as the force of the magnetic field must point towards the center of the circle.

The electron aqcuires its energy only from the induced electric field since F_B does no work (as it's perpendicular to the velocity).

From Faraday-Henry law

-dΦ/dt = ∫ E·dr

-d( ∫ B·dA )/dt = 1/q ∫ F·dr // B||dA, B<0, A>0

-qA d(-|B|)/dt = W

E = q πr² B_max/T

(It seems I made a mistake with the direction of B after all, or should it be q = |q| here?)

...
[PLAIN]http://www.vvio.info/jpg1
And that seems all too simple. Still, I don't see where I made the mistake, so I'd appreciate if someone were to point me to the right direction.

We were actually given advice on how to approach the problem. It included deriving an equation for the velocity of the electron. This can obviously be done from the Lorentz force equation and F_B = m a_n, but I see no reason for doing this. Nor would I know how to actually use v(t). Should I do something like P = dW/dt = F_E v?

The units are correct, q πr² B_max/T gives Joules, but the equation doesn't seem reasonable. It has no mass dependency which seems a bit unusual considering a betatron is a particle accelerator.
It has no mass dependency which seems a bit unusual considering a betatron is a particle accelerator
 
Last edited by a moderator:
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
Back
Top