What is the shape of an electron's circular motion in a magnetic field?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the shape of an electron's motion in a magnetic field, specifically examining what the circular path looks like from the electron's rest frame. The conversation touches on concepts of relativistic transformations and the nature of motion in different reference frames.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that in the rest frame of the electron, its motion would appear as a single point.
  • Another participant questions whether transforming the coordinates of the circular path in the laboratory frame to the electron's rest frame would result in all points coinciding at the origin.
  • A different viewpoint is presented, stating that there is no inertial frame where the electron is at rest continuously, but rather one where it is at rest once per revolution, describing the path as a cycloid.
  • One participant seeks clarification on the transformation needed to move from the laboratory frame to the instantaneous rest frame of the electron, proposing a boost parallel to the instantaneous velocity and a translation.
  • Another participant reiterates that the frame where the electron is at rest once per revolution is indeed a valid inertial frame and emphasizes that it is just a boost without concern for translations.
  • A participant expresses confusion regarding the shape of the curve they derived, questioning if it resembles an extended cycloid.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of the electron's path in its rest frame, with some asserting it is a single point while others argue for a cycloidal path. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact shape and nature of the motion.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the electron's motion and the definitions of the frames involved. The discussion does not resolve the mathematical steps required for the transformations mentioned.

komodekork
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So a electron moves in a circle with radius r in a magnetic field. What does that circle look like in the rest frame of the electron?
 
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In the rest frame of the electron, the electron is at rest, so its path is a single point.
 
So if I were to transform the coordinates of all the points on the circle in the laboratory frame by the Lorentz transformation to the rest frame of the electron, then they would all coincide with the origin of that frame?
 
There is no inertial frame where the electron is at rest all the time.
There is one where the electron is at rest once per revolution. In this frame, the path is a cycloid
 
Maybe I should have made this more explicit. I'm talking about what would a circle with radius r in a frame S look like, in a frame S', who is the instantaneous rest frame of a particle moving on that circle in frame S. Does that make sense?

I guess my question is what would the transformation be if I want to go from the laboratory frame to a instantaneous rest frame of the electron? Just a boost parallel to the instantaneous velocity pluss a translation?
Couldn't I then just use this transformation on the parametrisation of the circle in S, to findthe corresponding curve in S'?
 
mfb said:
There is one where the electron is at rest once per revolution. In this frame, the path is a cycloid
This is the inertial frame you are looking for. It is just a boost (and I don't care about translations, as nobody defined a zero here).
 
Ok, I don't get a cycloid, but this kind of curve. Does it look resonable?

edit.
I guess that's what's called an extended cycloid?
 

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