ABSTRACT

A charged particle, moving in a circular orbit, undergoes centripetal acceleration and therefore radiates electromagnetic energy. The physical circumstances under which this process occurs arise in synchrotrons, in which charged particles are guided in a circle by external magnetic fields. This chapter explores the characteristics of this synchrotron radiation by considering some kinematics. It discusses motion of a charged particle in a homogeneous magnetic field. Since the magnetic force is always perpendicular to the direction of motion, no work is done on the particle, and consequently the energy of the particle is conserved. The chapter discusses precession of velocity vector around a constant magnetic field, spectrum of synchrotron radiation, total power emitted into the mth harmonic, and total radiated power.