MOTION OF AN ELECTRIC CHARGE IN A TERRESTRIAL LABORATORY

The equation of motion for a charge in an electromagnetic field is wri tten in the Fermi coordinates of an observer moving with a constant ac celeration g = 9.8 m/s(2)(10(-18) cm(-1) in units such that c = 1). Th is is involved in the equation of motion not only as a Newtonian term ($) over right arrow g, but also as a relativistic correction of the f orm ''-2(($) over right arrow g .($) over right arrow v)($) over right arrow v.'' We have studied the effect of this term under the conditio ns of an accelerator of particles. To this end, we have considered a c onstant and uniform magnetic field, and a periodic electric field, bot h directed along the vertical direction. When the frequency of the ele ctric held is taken to be equal to the Larmor frequency of the charge in the magnetic field, a resonant effect occurs, producing a secular h orizontal drift of the nearly circular trajectory.