Motion of charged particles in an electric field > Focusing charged particles > Problem 7.2.9

Statement

A thin parallel beam of charged particles accelerated by a potential difference passes through the center of a uniformly charged spherical cavity. At what distance will this beam focus if the potential at the center of the sphere is ?

Solution

In this solution, the problem is considered in strict accordance with the text of the condition: the model is a uniformly charged empty spherical shell, all of whose charge is concentrated on the surface, with two small holes for the beam to pass through.

1. Physical model and superposition principle

Since , the change in the longitudinal kinetic energy of the beam is negligible (). The particle velocity along the axis can be considered constant. Furthermore, given the enormous speed of the beam and the traditional assumptions of such problems, we neglect the influence of the external scattering field at large distances from the sphere, focusing only on the sharp local field "kicks" directly at the holes (the aperture lens effect).

To strictly calculate the local fields, we apply the superposition principle. Let us represent the real shell with two holes as a superposition of two ideal systems:

1. An ideal continuous charged sphere with a surface charge density .
2. Two "virtual" disks with a charge density , located strictly at the positions of the entrance and exit holes.

Inside an ideal continuous sphere, the electric field is strictly zero. Therefore, all the focusing transverse field inside the cavity near the holes is created exclusively by these two virtual disks with a charge of .

2. First transverse momentum at the entrance

Let a particle fly at a distance from the beam's axis of symmetry (). Let's find the transverse momentum acquired from the local field of the first hole.

Let's isolate a small Gaussian cylinder of radius and thickness , encompassing only the region of the entrance hole itself. Within our mathematical superposition model, this cylinder contains the charge of the virtual disk, equal in magnitude to . The negative sign of this effective charge means the field is directed towards the axis (creating a focusing effect).

By Gauss's theorem, the flux of the electric field vector through the lateral surface of this cylinder is:

From this, the integral of the transverse field in the local hole zone is:

The transverse momentum the particle acquires by breaking through this local field is:

3. Focus check inside the cavity

Having received the first transverse momentum, the particle flies deeper into the cavity, acquiring a transverse velocity directed towards the beam axis.

The time to reach the axis is . The focal length after the first hole :

The kinetic energy is given by the accelerating voltage: .
The potential of the sphere is , which implies .
Substituting into :

Since , then . The beam travels too fast and does not have time to focus inside the cavity, reaching the exit hole at practically the same distance from the axis.

4. Second momentum and total focal length

Flying through the exit hole, the particle crosses the local field of the second virtual disk () and receives a similar transverse momentum directed towards the axis:

The total transverse momentum after exiting:

The final focal length of the entire system:

Substituting and , we obtain the final answer for an empty spherical shell:

Answer

*Note: This result is a strict consequence for an empty spherical shell. The answer in the official solutions manual is likely obtained for an alternative model, possibly - a solid charged sphere with a through cylindrical channel.*