What is electron cyclotron frequency?

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Electron cyclotron frequency is the rate at which an electron orbits in a magnetic field, calculated as eB/m, where e is the elementary charge, B is the magnetic field strength, and m is the electron's mass. This frequency indicates the number of revolutions per second of the electron around the magnetic field lines. The radius of this orbit, known as the cyclotron or Larmor radius, is influenced by the electron's kinetic energy perpendicular to the magnetic field and is determined by the formula m*u_perp/(eB). The term "cyclotron" refers to this specific type of motion, which typically features the smallest orbit and highest frequency compared to other electron orbits in magnetic confinement systems. Understanding electron cyclotron frequency is essential in fields like plasma physics and magnetic confinement fusion.
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Can somebody explain the electron cyclotron frequency with minimum math please.
thanks.
 
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It is the number of revolutions per second of the electron.
 
pam said:
It is the number of revolutions per second of the electron.

Thats it. Revolutions around what? the nucleus? why is it called the electron-cyclotron?
 
The electron cyclotron frequency refers to an electron's orbit in a magnetic field. The frequency of this orbit is given as eB/m where e is elementary charge, B is magnetic field strength and m is mass of electron. The radius of this orbit (either called the cyclotron radius or the Larmor radius) depends on the kinetic energy of the electron perpendicular to the magnetic field and is given by m*u_perp/(eB) where u_perp is the velocity of an electron perpendicular to the magnetic field.

Why it is called the "cyclotron" I am not sure. However, it is always called cyclotron when referring to this kind of motion, which is typically the smallest orbit and the highest frequency, as opposed to other "guiding center" orbits (e.g. magnetron) an electron can have in magnetic confinement devices.
 

Thread 'Why measure the speed of light in one direction?'

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