Group classification of charged particle motion in stationary electromagnetic fields

TL;DR

This paper classifies the motion of charged particles in stationary electromagnetic fields using Lie symmetries, revealing symmetry structures and discussing implications for integrability.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive Lie symmetry classification for charged particle dynamics in arbitrary stationary fields, including gauge invariance and optimal subalgebra systems.

Findings

Complete symmetry classification for nonlinear and inhomogeneous fields

Identification of finite-dimensional symmetry algebras from gauge invariance

Discussion of integrability based on Noether symmetries

Abstract

In this paper we classify in terms of Lie point symmetries the three-dimensional nonrelativistic motion of charged particles in arbitrary time-independent electromagnetic fields. The classification is made on the ground of equivalence transformations, and, when the system is nonlinear and particularly for inhomogeneous and curved magnetic fields, it is also complete. Using the homogeneous Maxwell's equations as auxiliary conditions for consistency, in which case the system amounts to a Lagrangian of three degrees of freedom with velocity-dependent potentials, the equivalence group stays the same. Therefore, instead of the actual fields, the potentials are equally employed and their gauge invariance results in an infinite-dimensional equivalence algebra, which nevertheless projects to finite-dimensional symmetry algebras. Subsequently, optimal systems of equivalence subalgebras are obtained that lead to one-, two- and three-parameter extended symmetry groups, besides the obvious time translations. Finally, based on symmetries of Noether type, aspects of complete integrability are discussed, as well.