Variables
Description
What is this formula?
The electron cyclotron frequency formula calculates the angular frequency at which an electron rotates around magnetic field lines due to the Lorentz force.
It describes the circular motion of electrons in a uniform magnetic field and is one of the key characteristic frequencies in magnetized plasma physics.
When to use it
Use this formula when analyzing electron motion in magnetic fields, magnetized plasmas, cyclotron resonance, plasma confinement, microwave heating, space plasmas, and laboratory plasma diagnostics.
Example
An electron moves in a magnetic field of:
B = 0.08 T
Using:
e = 1.602×10^-19 C
me = 9.109×10^-31 kg
Formula:
ωce = (e*B)/me
Substitution:
ωce = (1.602×10^-19 × 0.08)/(9.109×10^-31)
Result:
ωce ≈ 1.41×10^10 rad/s
Applications
- Magnetized plasma analysis
- Electron cyclotron resonance heating
- Tokamak and stellarator physics
- Space plasma studies
- Plasma confinement
- Microwave-plasma interaction
- Charged particle motion in magnetic fields