B1.21

Electrodynamics
Part II, 2003

A particle of charge qq and mass mm moves non-relativistically with 4 -velocity ua(t)u^{a}(t) along a trajectory xa(t)x^{a}(t). Its electromagnetic field is determined by the Liénard-Wiechert potential

Aa(x,t)=q4πϵ0ua(t)ub(t)(xx(t))bA^{a}\left(\mathbf{x}^{\prime}, t^{\prime}\right)=\frac{q}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}} \frac{u^{a}(t)}{u_{b}(t)\left(x^{\prime}-x(t)\right)^{b}}

where t=t+xxt^{\prime}=t+\left|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}^{\prime}\right| and x\mathbf{x} denotes the spatial part of the 4 -vector xax^{a}.

Derive a formula for the Poynting vector at very large distances from the particle. Hence deduce Larmor's formula for the rate of loss of energy due to electromagnetic radiation by the particle.

A particle moves in the (x,y)(x, y) plane in a constant magnetic field B=(0,0,B)\mathbf{B}=(0,0, B). Initially it has kinetic energy E0E_{0}; derive a formula for the kinetic energy of this particle as a function of time.