Author
Formanek, MartinIssue Date
2020Keywords
covariant dynamicsmagnetic moment
radiation friction
radiation reaction
relativistic quantum mechanics
spin precession
Advisor
Rafelski, Johann
Metadata
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The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction, presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
In this thesis we focused on two apects of the classical relativistic particle motion in which the standard Lorentz force equation leaves room for improvement. These are interaction of inherent magnetic moment of particles with external electromagnetic fields (Stern-Gerlach force) and radiation friction. In order to inspire the classical models of magnetic moment interaction we compared the existing extensions of Dirac and Klein-Gordon relativistic quantum mechanics (RQM) equations accounting for anomalous magnetic moment. We show that the predictions of both models differ even in simple field configurations. Therefore it is not clear which (if any) of the RQM models should be the basis for the classical magnetic moment models. Next we turn to a classical description. We show how to describe the intrinsic angular moment (spin) in the context of classical dynamics. We present existing classical models and discuss their theoretical limitations. We introduce a new covariant model of the Stern-Gerlach force based on a dipole charge and magnetic 4-potential in analogy to the Lorentz force on a charged particle. The corresponding minimal form of spin dynamics equation is derived. We present a solution of neutral particle motion and its spin precession in an external EM linearly polarized plane wave field using our model. The applications for Dirac neutrinos and neutron beams are discussed. We study the radiation friction acting on an accelerated particle in the context of a charged particle slowing down under the influence of empirical material friction force. The covariant formulation of such force is presented and we discuss the radiation friction prediction in Landau-Lifshitz-like iteration scheme. We show that such an approach predicts further acceleration of the particle in its own radiation field. We present our own matter path-warping model of radiation friction, applicable in this simple one-dimensional situation, which restores the energy balance. Application on up quarks slowing down in quark gluon plasma is discussed.Type
textElectronic Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.Degree Level
doctoralDegree Program
Graduate CollegePhysics