Rigidity (electromagnetism)
Encyclopedia
In accelerator physics
, rigidity is a concept used to determine the effect of particular magnetic fields on the motion of the charged particles.
It is a measure of the momentum of the particle, and it refers to the fact that a higher momentum particle will have a higher resistance to deflection by a magnetic field. It is defined as R = Bρ = p/q, where B is the magnetic field, ρ is the gyroradius of the particle due to this field, p is the particle momentum, and q is its charge. It is frequently referred to as simply "Bρ".
It is important to note that the rigidity is defined by the action of a static, dipole, field, whose field lines are perpendicular to the velocity vector of the particle. This will cause a force perpendicular both to the velocity vector, and to the field lines, defining a plane through which the particle moves. The definition of the Lorenz force implies that the particle's motion will be circular, thus giving a constant radius of curvature.
If the particle momentum, p, is given in GeV/c, then the rigidity, in tesla-metres, is Bρ = 3.3356p/q.
Accelerator physics
Accelerator physics deals with the problems of building and operating particle accelerators.The experiments conducted with particle accelerators are not regarded as part of accelerator physics. These belong to particle physics, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, materials physics, etc...
, rigidity is a concept used to determine the effect of particular magnetic fields on the motion of the charged particles.
It is a measure of the momentum of the particle, and it refers to the fact that a higher momentum particle will have a higher resistance to deflection by a magnetic field. It is defined as R = Bρ = p/q, where B is the magnetic field, ρ is the gyroradius of the particle due to this field, p is the particle momentum, and q is its charge. It is frequently referred to as simply "Bρ".
It is important to note that the rigidity is defined by the action of a static, dipole, field, whose field lines are perpendicular to the velocity vector of the particle. This will cause a force perpendicular both to the velocity vector, and to the field lines, defining a plane through which the particle moves. The definition of the Lorenz force implies that the particle's motion will be circular, thus giving a constant radius of curvature.
If the particle momentum, p, is given in GeV/c, then the rigidity, in tesla-metres, is Bρ = 3.3356p/q.