7.3.10. A device designed to select electrons with a specific velocity from an electron beam consists of a parallel-plate capacitor of length $l$, shielded on both sides by screens. The first screen has an input aperture $A$, and the second has a long output channel $B$. An alternating voltage with frequency $\omega$ and amplitude $V_0$ is applied to the plates. The distance between the plates is $d$.
a. What is the velocity of the electrons selected by the device from a beam entering parallel to the plates?
b.* By how much must aperture $A$ be narrower than channel $B$ to ensure that the selected group of electrons passes through the channel?
Solution
Let $V(t)=V_0\sin{\omega t}$.This voltage creates an alternating field which equals:
Since there are no any forces in the direction of initial speed,the projection of the speed to that direction will stay the same.But,there is a vertical force acting on electrons which causes vertical displacement.By applying Newton's second law to $y$ axis we get:
For the beam to exit through the channel, its vertical velocity component must be zero when passing through the outlet channel B.The time to pass the capacitor is:
\begin{equation} t=\frac{l}{v_0} \end{equation}
where $v_0$ is an initial speed of the beam.
Using that $v_y(\frac{l}{v_0})=0$ we get the following:
Let widths of channels A and B are $d_A$ and $d_B$ respectively. Let us consider the outermost electron relative to the point of origin. If this electron can pass through the channel, then the entire beam will also pass through.