A charged particle in a uniform electromagnetic field a group-theoretical analysis

Abstract

A new covariant derivation is given for the relativistic symmetry group of a uniform electromagnetic field. The symmetry group of the equations of motion of a charged (classical, Klein-Gordon or Dirac) particle in such a field and its irreducible representations are determined. Using the representations the solutions of the equations of motion are discussed. Exact solutions can be given for the motion of a charged particle in an arbitrary uniform field.