Single-particle motion#

Charged-particle motion in electromagnetic fields, in two complementary pictures: the exact Lorentz-force orbit integrated with the energy-conserving Boris pusher (boris_integrate()), and the guiding-center picture that averages over the fast gyration to track only the slow drift of the orbit’s center (exb_drift(), grad_b_drift(), curvature_drift()) and the adiabatic invariant responsible for magnetic mirror confinement (magnetic_moment(), magnetic_mirror_bounce()).

Guiding-center drifts and magnetic mirror confinement

Guiding-center drifts and magnetic mirror confinement

Energy-conserving gyration with the Boris pusher

Energy-conserving gyration with the Boris pusher

Recovering the ExB drift as a time-average of the full orbit

Recovering the ExB drift as a time-average of the full orbit