Past exam of the theoretical physics I course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / Paper 1 / 2

Use the magnetic-coupling convention of the supplied Hamiltonian; electromagnetic unit factors are absorbed into the stated $e$ and $B$. Let $\alpha =m_1/M$ and $\beta =m_2/M$, soThe kinetic energy separates into $M{\dot{\mathbf{R}}}^2/2+\mu {\dot{\mathbf{r}}}^2/2$. The symmetric gauge coupling ${\sum }_i{e}_i{\dot{\mathbf{r}}}_i\cdot (\mathbf{B}\times {\mathbf{r}}_i)/2$ becomesThe scalar triple product identity givesDiscarding $-e/2$ times that total derivative, which changes endpoint terms and canonical momenta but not the trajectories, leaves

For this neutral Coulomb pair in a uniform magnetic field, the reduced Lagrangian gives the canonical momentaInvert these relations and take the Legendre transform. The velocity-linear terms cancel against their momentum contributions, givingThere is no explicit time dependence, so $dH/dt=0$. There is no dependence on $\mathbf{R}$, so $\dot{\mathbf{P}}=0$. The distinction between kinetic momentum and magnetic pseudomomentum matters: the conserved vector is $\mathbf{P}$, not generally $M\dot{\mathbf{R}}$. The mechanical centre-of-mass momentum $M\dot{\mathbf{R}}=\mathbf{P}+e\mathbf{B}\times \mathbf{r}$ generally varies as the separation changes. A neutral pair can therefore have accelerated centre-of-mass motion in a magnetic field.

Interpret $\mathbf{P}=0$ as the zero-pseudomomentum sector, rather than assuming the mechanical centre of mass is at rest. Define $\mathbf{u}=\mathbf{p}+e^{\ast }\mathbf{B}\times \mathbf{r}$. Hamilton's equations areFor example, differentiating the relative kinetic term with respect to $\mathbf{r}$ gives $-e^{\ast }\mathbf{B}\times \mathbf{u}/\mu$ because the cross-product matrix is antisymmetric. Hamilton's minus sign then gives the positive cross-product term in $\dot{\mathbf{p}}$. The Coulomb force is attractive. A change to a moving frame need not preserve a pure magnetic external field, so setting $\mathbf{P}=0$ is a restriction on the chosen solution family.

Differentiate $\mu \dot{\mathbf{r}}=\mathbf{p}+e^{\ast }\mathbf{B}\times \mathbf{r}$ and substitute the previous momentum equation:For a planar vector, $\mathbf{B}\times \dot{\mathbf{r}}=B(-\dot{y},\dot{x})$, which gives the two component equations with the printed signs.

For circular relative motion of a neutral Coulomb pair of separation radius $R$, $\dot{\mathbf{r}}=\omega \hat{\mathbf{z}}\times \mathbf{r}$ and $\ddot{\mathbf{r}}=-{\omega }^2\mathbf{r}$. ThusSince $(e^{\ast }{)}^2+\mu e^2/M=e^2/4$, the two signed frequencies areOne is positive and the other negative. At $B=0$ they give the two senses of an ordinary Coulomb circular orbit; equal masses remove the term linear in $B$ from their average. With negligible Coulomb attraction and $eB>0$, the branches approach $eB/m_2$ and $-eB/m_1$, the appropriate signed free cyclotron limits.

The actual particle paths follow by integrating the centre-of-mass velocity:Both particles move on circles about the same fixed guiding centre with a constant separation and common signed frequency, with a possible relative phase reversal encoded by a negative coefficient. Their mechanical centre of mass also generally circles. This is consistent with magnetic deflection plus a central mutual force; central interaction alone does not eliminate the external Lorentz forces.