Relativistic electron motion in a resonant cavity with time varying and inhomogeneous magnetic fields

Abstract

An electron rotating under the influence of a magnetic field can be accelerated by a resonant rotating RF electric field. To prolong this interaction the magnetic field is inhomogeneous in space (magnetic mirror), and time varying for the dynamic adjustment of the synchronism. The acceleration process is described by the relativistic and nonlinear equations for the motion and the fields. The process can be better understood through simulations which predict the electron trajectory and the gain in kinetic energy under various field configurations. The simulation program was tested for cases with known results with good agreement. Subsequently, many simulations were done for the general case to investigate the influence of the injection position and velocity of the electron, and the configuration and strength of the fields. Critical comparison of these results allowed optimization for maximum energy gain.