Motion of electrons in crossed fields, radial electric and uniform magnetic: theory and computer simulation

Abstract This paper examines the motion of electrons in the radial electric field of a vacuum diode with coaxial cylindrical electrodes in the presence of a uniform magnetic field parallel to the diode axis, assuming an equilibrium velocity distribution for emitted electrons. An expression for the dependence of the current on the induction of the magnetic field I a B is derived. The analysis reveals that, within certain limits, this dependence is invariant with respect to potential distribution U r , if the potential difference of the electrodes is constant, and the corresponding criteria for the potential distribution are defined. The change in the nature of the I a B dependence in the presence of a space charge is investigated. Based on the obtained results, we discuss new possibilities in determining the specific charge of an electron by the magnetron method in a university physics laboratory. The results of the computer simulation of electron emitting and motion are presented.