Magnetic pseudomomentum ($\mathbf{K}=\mathbf{p}+\frac{e}{2}\mathbf{B}\times \mathbf{x}$)

For a charged particle in a uniform magnetic field, the symmetric gauge $\mathbf{A}=\mathbf{B}\times \mathbf{x}/2$ makes the displayed magnetic pseudomomentum a conserved quantity when no other position-dependent potential breaks translation symmetry. It differs from the kinetic momentum $\mathbf{\pi }=\mathbf{p}-e\mathbf{A}=m\dot{\mathbf{x}}$. With $\mathbf{B}=B{\mathbf{e}}_3$, Hamilton's equations for $H=|\mathbf{p}-e\mathbf{A}{|}^2/(2m)$ give ${\dot{p}}_1=(eB/2){\dot{x}}_2$ and ${\dot{p}}_2=-(eB/2){\dot{x}}_1$, proving conservation of $K_1=p_1-eB{x}_2/2$ and $K_2=p_2+eB{x}_1/2$. The charge factor is necessary unless it has already been absorbed into the field convention. In quantum mechanics the transverse components need not commute, even though each commutes with this Hamiltonian operator; magnetic translation algebra records that distinction.