P6_5 Simulating Charged Particle Motion in Electromagnetic Fields using Numerical Methods

Abstract

We investigated the motion of a charged particle within an electromagnetic field using both the Euler and Boris methods. It has been shown that if the electric and magnetic field are perpendicular to one another then a charged particle will follow a cycloidal motion. We have also shown that the Euler method breaks down in the presence of a magnetic field and conclude that the Boris method is superior for simulating charge particle motion in fields.