Stochastic motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field: I. Classical treatment

Abstract

We study the dissipative, classical dynamics of a charged particle in the presence of a magnetic field. Two stochastic models are employed, and a comparative analysis is made, one based on diffusion processes and the other on jump processes. In the literature on collision-broadening of spectral lines, these processes go under the epithet of weak-collision model and Boltzmann-Lorentz model, respectively. We apply our model calculation to investigate the effect of magnetic field on the collision-broadened spectral lines, when the emitter carries an electrical charge. The spectral lines show narrowing as the magnetic field is increased, the narrowing being sharper in the Boltzmann-Lorentz model than in the weak collision model.