Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ii Paper 1 37D iv Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Because is constant, . The coordinate speed along the circle is consequentlysoFor the convention in the question, take , so and .
On the circular solution, the free part of the relativistic charged-particle action isIn the gauge , the interaction is the closed line integralThe orbit is clockwise for , so . ThusCombining the two terms and using gives the charged-particle action over one relativistic cyclotron orbitAlthough the intermediate magnetic line integral depends on the chosen magnetic vector potential, the closed-orbit result is gauge invariant.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 iii Paper 314 3 b Solution 2026-09-28
For the stated magnetic vector potential, part a givesApplying the same identity once more and using the Ampère-Maxwell equation in the magnetostatic limit givesExpanding the Lorentz force density , using and the vector triple-product identity, separates its poloidal and azimuthal parts:where
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ib Paper 2 4C Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-10-03
Vanishing net charge density does not require vanishing current. Positive and negative charge carriers can cancel in charge density while their oppositely directed motions add to a nonzero current. Charge conservation only requiresfor magnetostatics this becomes .
Because , one may introduce a magnetic vector potential withIt is not unique: gives the same field for any scalar .
For the stated current,so it is consistent with stationary charge conservation. Direct calculation givesThus is a Beltrami field. For , chooseThen and . A convenient Coulomb-gauge potential issince and . Gradient gauge terms may of course be added.
For a smooth divergence-free field on , the differential form is closed. The radial homotopy formula gives a global magnetic vector potential with curl . For constant , this reduces to .