Electric-cross-magnetic-field drift (source code)

= Electric-cross-magnetic-field drift
{title2=$\mathbf E\times\mathbf B$ drift}

In the nonrelativistic <Lorentz force> model, uniform perpendicular <electric field> $\mathbf E$ and <magnetic field> $\mathbf B\ne0$ give the guiding-centre <velocity> $\mathbf v_D=\mathbf E\times\mathbf B/|\mathbf B|^2$, independent of <electric charge> and <mass>. For $\mathbf E=E\mathbf e_x$ and $\mathbf B=B\mathbf e_z$, the drift component is $v_y=-E/B$.

The <electric drift in crossed uniform fields> derivation separates force-cancelling drift from the remaining <cyclotron motion> and states the nonrelativistic speed restriction and the relativistic magnetic-dominated condition. These conditions matter when using the drift to describe <Landau levels in crossed electric and magnetic fields>.