Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems · Problem 7-36

Central-Force Motion — Marion & Thornton

Physics — Mechanics · liouville-theorem-charged-particle-beam

Problem

Discuss the implications of Liouville's theorem on the focusing of beams of charged particles by considering the following simple case. An electron beam of circular cross section (radius R0R_0) is directed along the zz-axis. The density of electrons across the beam is constant, but the momentum components transverse to the beam (pxp_x and pyp_y) are distributed uniformly over a circle of radius p0p_0 in momentum space. If some focusing system reduces the beam radius from R0R_0 to R1R_1, find the resulting distribution of the transverse momentum components. What is the physical meaning of this result? (Consider the angular divergence of the beam.)

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