Dynamics of ultrarelativistic charged particles with strong radiation reaction
ORAL
Abstract
phenomenon wherein ultrarelativistic charged particles experiencing strong radiation reaction tend
to move along special directions fixed by the local electromagnetic field. In the relativity literature
these are known as the “principal null directions” (PNDs) of the Maxwell field. A particle in
this regime has “Aristotelian” dynamics in the sense that its velocity (rather than acceleration) is
determined by the local field. We study this Aristotelian equilibrium in detail, starting from the
Landau-Lifshitz equation describing charged particle motion including radiation reaction. Using a
Frenet-Serret frame adapted to the PNDs, we derive the Lorentz factor describing motion along the
local PND, together with drift velocities reflecting slower passage from one PND to another. We
derive conditions on the field configuration that are necessary for such an equilibrium to occur. We
demonstrate agreement of our analytic formulas with full numerical solutions of the Landau-Lifshitz
equation in the appropriate regim.
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Presenters
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Yangyang Cai
University of Arizona
Authors
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Yangyang Cai
University of Arizona
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Samuel E Gralla
University of Arizona
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Vasileios Paschalidis
University of Arizona