Breaking of the first adiabatic invariants of charged particles in time-dependent magnetic fields: Computer simulations and theory

The mechanics of the first adiabatic invariant μ of nonrelativistic charged particles in time-dependent magnetic inductions B(t) are studied by means of computer simulations and analytic theory. Linear-ramp magnetic-induction profiles B=${\mathit{B}}_0$+(ΔB/Δt)t are utilized, as well as hyperbolic-tangent ramps and sine half-wave ramps. The change in μ that results from an induction change ΔB that occurs over a time Δt is quantified for all values of ΔB and Δt, as well as for all values of the particle position. It is found that the cases fall into two categories with very different μ behavior: cases in which the change in the magnetic induction occurs over a time Δt that is exactly equal to an integer number of gyroperiods (textbook case) or cases in which the change in the induction occurs over a time Δt that is not equal to an integer number of gyroperiods (more general case). In both categories μ is an adiabatic invariant, although the conservation of μ is much poorer in the latter category. It is pointed out that, in addition to the well-known constraints on ΔB and Δt, there is a constraint on the particle’s initial position in the magnetic field if the change in the adiabatic invariant is to be kept small.