Dynamics of relativistic electrons in non-uniform magnetic fields and its applications in quantum computing and astrophysics

TL;DR

This paper investigates the behavior of relativistic electrons in spatially varying magnetic fields, revealing effects like Landau level splitting and potential applications in quantum computing and astrophysics.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of relativistic electron dynamics in non-uniform magnetic fields and explores interdisciplinary applications including quantum speed and stellar mass limits.

Findings

Landau level degeneracy is lifted in non-uniform fields.

Alignment of Landau levels depends on magnetic field gradient.

Magnetic field variation affects the equation of state of matter.

Abstract

We explore the two-dimensional motion of relativistic electrons when they are trapped in magnetic fields having spatial power-law variation. Its impacts include lifting of degeneracy that emerged in the case of the constant magnetic field, special alignment of Landau levels of spin-up and spin-down electrons depending on whether the magnetic field is increasing or decreasing from the centre, splitting of Landau levels of electrons with zero angular momentum from that of positive one and the change in the equation of state of matter. Landau quantization (LQ) in variable magnetic fields has interdisciplinary applications in a variety of disciplines ranging from condensed matter to quantum information. As examples, we discuss the increase in quantum speed of the electron in presence of spatially increasing magnetic field; and the attainment of super Chandrasekhar mass of white dwarfs by taking into account LQ and Lorentz force simultaneously.