Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / ii / Paper 1 / 37C (Electrodynamics)

Withthe electromagnetic field tensor is the antisymmetric tensorUnder a Lorentz transformation $x^{\prime \mu }={\Lambda }^{\mu }{}_{\nu }{x}^{\nu }$, the four-potential transforms as a four-vector and thereforeThus $F$ is an antisymmetric rank-two tensor under Lorentz transformations.

Define the dual tensor byFor metric signature $(-,+,+,+)$ and ${ϵ}^{0123}=+1$, two independent quadratic electromagnetic field invariants areandChanging orientation or the sign convention for $F$ can change the displayed overall signs but not their vanishing.

For a vacuum plane electromagnetic wave with wavevector $\mathbf{k}$,Hencefor every transverse polarization. Both Lorentz scalars therefore vanish.

Choose, for example,The fields are perpendicular and satisfy $E_0^2=c^2{B}_0^2$, so both invariants vanish. Every nonzero constant background with vanishing invariants can be brought to this form by a spatial rotation, up to signs.

In this frame, and with a convention consistent with the relativistic Lorentz force, the mixed tensor isCalling the displayed dimensionless matrix $N$, direct multiplication givesConsequentlyThis is a tensor equation. Since it holds in the canonical frame, it holds in every Lorentz frame for any null electromagnetic field.

Let $X^{\mu }(\tau )$ be the worldline, $u^{\mu }=d{X}^{\mu }/d\tau$ its four-velocity, andThe relativistic Lorentz force in the constant background isBecause $F^3=0$, its exponential terminates:The particle starts from rest, soUsing the matrix from part (c) givesIntegrating from the origin and using $X^0=ct$ yields the parametric trajectoryThis is the relativistic trajectory in a constant null crossed field. The real cubic relation for $t(\tau )$ is strictly increasing, so it determines $\tau$ uniquely as a function of coordinate time if an explicit $\mathbf{x}(t)$ is desired.