LEAI-45 Apparatus for Determining

Specific Charge of Electron-Basic

Instruction Manual

Lambda Scientific Systems, Inc

14055 SW 142nd Avenue, Suite 22, Miami, FL 33186,
USA Phone: (305) 252-3838; Fax: (305) 517-3739
E-mail: sales @lambdas ys.com; Web:
www. lambdasys.c om

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V1

COMPANY PROFILE
Lambda Scientific Systems, Inc. specializes in developing and marketing scientific
instruments and laboratory apparatus that are designed and manufactured specifically for
experimental education in physics at colleges and universities.
We supply high-quality, reliable, easy-to-use, and affordable scientific instruments and
laboratory apparatus to college educators and students for their teaching and learning of both
fundamental and

advanced

physics principles through

hands-on

experiments and

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CONTENTS
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
2. Technical specifications ............................................................................................................. 1
3. Working principle ...................................................................................................................... 1
4. Panel controls ............................................................................................................................. 4
5. Experiment Procedures .............................................................................................................. 5
6. Maintenance ............................................................................................................................... 6
7. Accessories ................................................................................................................................. 6

1.

Introduction

Electron charge/mass ratio is one of the important constants in modern physics. LEAI-45
adopts the longitudinal magnetic field focusing method to measure the e/m of an electron
with an accuracy of better than 5%. Hence it is suitable for experimental demonstration in
colleges and universities.
2. Technical specifications
1) Max. input power:
85 W
2) Acceleration voltage:
1000 V ~ 1200 V continuously adjustable
3) Low voltage DC power:
Current range:
0.2 A ~ 1.5 A/1.5 A ~ 2.5 A continuously adjustable
Current direction:
reversible
4) Parameter of helix tube:
Turn number N:
3800 turns/m (unit length of the helix tube)
5) Parameters of oscilloscope tube
Distance:
0.148 m (between screen to y deflection plate 1)
6) Continuous working time: 1 h
7) Environmental conditions:

Temperature:
-10 to 40 C

Relative humidity:
max. 85% (at 40 C)
8) Dimensions:
380 190 320 mm
9) Weight:
11 kg
3.

Working principle

After switching on, the electron in the oscilloscope tube will be subject to Lorentz force
under the uniform magnetic field generated by the coil. The Lorentz force can be expressed as:
r
s r
F = e B
(1)
where F is the Lorentz force exerted on the electron, is the velocity of electron movement,
B is the magnetic induction strength, and e is the electron charge.
The direction of Lorentz force is decided by left hand rule and its magnitude is:
F = e B sin

(2)

If the electrons moving direction coincides with the field direction, then a=0, sina=0.
The force exerted on the electron is also zero, and thus the electron will keep its uniform
rectilinear movement along its original directions.
When the electron velocity is vertical to B (electron velocity is expressed as ),
a=90, sina=1. At that time, the force exerted on the electron becomes F=evB. This force
changes electrons moving direction, but it doesnt change the magnitude of the electron
velocity, and thus the electron makes a uniform circular movement with a radius R in the
plane vertical to B, as shown in Fig, 1 (a).
1

Figure 1
From Newtons law, we get:

m
F = e B =
R

(3)

Here, m is the mass of an electron.

Thus, the time necessary for an electron to rotate for one revolution
is:
T =

(4)

2R 2 m
=

eB

Equation (4) shows that period T is independent of electron velocity, which means, under a
uniform magnetic field, the time of rotation of one revolution for electrons with
different velocities is identical, except that the higher the electron velocity, the larger the
rotation radius of the electron. This is actually the theoretical basis for the magnetic focusing
method.
If there is an angle a between electron velocity and magnetic field B, the electron
velocity
can be decomposed into two components: axial velocity // parallel with B; radial velocity
vertical to B. // remains constant, i.e. the electron will uniformly move along the axis; while
under Lorentz force, will make the electron rotate around the axis. The resulted orbit
of movement is a helix as shown in Fig. 1-(b), and the pitch (the travel of the electron in B
direction between revolutions) is:
(5)
h = T // 2 m
=
//
eB
From equation (5), we get:
e
Here, h is the pitch.

2
Bh

(6)

//

If the electrons in an electron beam emitted from the same point have different

but

identical // , then after travelling a distance h, they will be focused at a point. This is called
magnetic field focusing (i.e. longitudinal magnetic field focusing).

The electrons emitted from a cathode can be approximately assumed to have no initial
velocity. They will be accelerated under the voltage of the first anode (focusing electrode)
and second
anode (accelerating electrode) in the tube. The longitudinal velocity of electron depends on
//

voltage U (referred to as acceleration voltage) applied by the cathode to the second anode, i.e.
2
1
m // = eU . Here, e is electron charge, and U is acceleration voltage (the voltage between
2
the cathode and the second anode).
Hence, we get:

// =

2eU
m

(7)

Substituting equation (7) into equation (6), we get:

2

e 8 U
= 2
m 2h B

(8)

The oscilloscope tube is placed with the long helix tube. After switching on, all the
electron rays will be focused into a point under the focusing voltage, thereby a bright spot will
be found on the screen. To create velocity , 15 VAC is applied to a pair of deflection
plates of the oscilloscope tube and the electrons will get a vertical component velocity within
a certain range and thus a scanning straight line is formed on the screen.
If current I runs through the helix tube, a magnetic induction strength will be generated in the
direction of this helix tube. Under the magnetic field, electrons will make a helix movement,
It
is apparent from Equation (5) that // (also acceleration voltage U) varies with I (magnitude of
B) in the helix tube, in such a way that h (pitch) is just equal to the distance (l) between the
starting deflecting point of the y deflection plate and the center of the screen. In such case, a
bright spot shown on the screen is called primary focusing (see Fig 2) and then equation (8)
can be rewritten as:
2

e
8 U
= 2 2
m l B

Figure 2

(l 0.148 m)

(9)

Strictly speaking, the magnetic field in a helix tube should be calculated based on field
formula for a multi-layer wound helix tube. However, it can be simplified based on thin helix
tube formula: B= 0NI(cos1-cos2)/2, as seen in Fig.3.

Figure 3
At the center of the helix tube, B= 0NIcos. Hence, the equation of e/m ratio
is:
e
8 2 U
U
=
=
1014 C /
kg
2
2
2 2
2
m l 2 0 N 2 I 2 cos 2
2l N I cos

(10)

where N: turn number of unit length (turns/m) (for this apparatus N=3800 turns/m), 0:
-7
the magnetic conductivity in vacuum ( 0=410 H/m), I: the current in helix tube, l: the
distance between screen and y deflection plate, U: acceleration voltage, and cos=0.948.
4. Panel controls
1)
Power switch (S1) and indicator
(LED)
After switching on S1, the indicator (LED) turns green indicating the power is on.
2)
High voltage DC
power
a. Brightness adjusting knob (RP1)
It is used to control the brightness of electron traces on screen. Warning: never use high
brightness as it may damage the fluorescent materials.
b. Focusing adjusting knob(RP2)
It is used to focus electron traces on the screen. Electron traces should be focused when
a change in brightness or acceleration voltage
occurs. c. Acceleration voltage adjusting knob (RP3)
It is used to adjust the acceleration voltage between the second anode (A1) and the first
anode (K). The acceleration voltage can be read out from the DC voltmeter on the panel.
To get a more accurate reading of the acceleration voltage, an external voltmeter with
a
range of 1500 V can be used by plugging to the red and black terminals marked
high voltage monitoring on the front panel. Warning: avoid high-voltage shocks.
3) Low voltage power
a. Low power switch (S2)
After switching on S2, low DC power will be turned on.

b. Fuse holder for low voltage power

This fuse holder holds low-voltage fuses

(3A). c. Current direction (POLARITY) switch
(S4)
It is used to change the direction of magnetic field in helix tube during
experiment.
d. Current change-over switch (S3)
It is used to set the current range at 0.2 A ~ 1.5 A or 1.5 A ~ 2.5
A.
e. Current gain knob (RP4)
It is used to control the current running through helix tube. The current can be read
out
from DC ammeter. To get a more accurate reading of the current, an external
ammeter
with a range of 3 A can be used. First, remove the short-circuited copper plate between
the red and black terminals marked current monitoring on the front panel; then the
external ammeter should be connected in series with the terminals.
5. Experimental Procedures
1) Turn the brightness knob counter-clockwise to the end, set low voltage switch (LV
Source) at off position, and turn on power. The indicator should turn green
and preheat the apparatus for 5 minutes. A bright strip of roughly 3 cm in length will
show on the screen. Now turn the brightness knob to set proper brightness (do not set
high brightness!).
2) Adjust the acceleration voltage to 1000 ~ 1100 V while adjusting the focusing knob to
focus the bright strip.
3) Turn the current gain knob counter-clockwise to the end, set the current change-over
switch at 1.5 A range, and turn the low voltage power on. Now, the helix tube is
energized and the bright strip on the screen will rotate by an angle and shorten.
4) Turn the current gain knob slowly in clockwise directly to increase the current
through the helix tube while monitoring the current reading on the ammeter. The
bright strip will continuously turn and shorten, it becomes a spot when the current
increases to 1 A, indicating that electrons undertake both circular movement and linear
movement in B direction, and are focused to a point after traveling a distance of h (l).
The readings now are called current I1, and acceleration voltage U.
5) Turn the current gain knob counter-clockwise to the end, and set the current
change- over switch at 2.5 A range. Now the bright spot on the screen will lengthen.
Turn the current gain knob slowly to increase the current and the bright strip will
shorten. When the current is increased to about 2 A, the bright strip will shorten into a
spot. This is the secondary focusing point with the current called I2. A mean current
value as I=(I1+I2)/3 may be used in equation (10) to calculate the value of e/m, and
calculate experimental
11
error of e/m value (well-known value of e/m=1.75910
C/kg). Note, the
current
direction is set by the current POLARITY switch. The experimental effect may be some
differences for the two directions. Use the direction of having better effect for
the acquisition of the experimental data.
6) Press the current POLARITY switch to another direction, repeat the above procedures,
and observe the bright strip changes (now the current through the helix tube is reversed
and the turning direction of the bright strip on screen is also reversed).

7) To calculate e/m value more accurately, external voltmeter and ammeter should be
used in connection with the terminals on the front panel. Warning: avoid highvoltage shocks from the terminals marked high voltage monitoring on the front
panel.

6. Maintenance
1) To extend the lifetime of the oscilloscope tube, do not set or use the apparatus
under high brightness mode. Before and after use, ensure that the brightness knob is
turned counter-clockwise to the end.
2) If the indicator fails to turn on after power-on, pull the fuse drawer located under the
apparatus to check and replace the fuse (BGXP-0.75A).
3) If there is no low voltage power after power-on, pull the fuse drawer located under the
apparatus to check and replace the low voltage fuse (BGXP-3A).
4) If not in use, the apparatus should be energized every three months.
5) The apparatus should be stored in a dry and well-ventilated area, and should be
handled with care.
6) The apparatus should be powered off before movement, wiping, or replacement of
fuses.
7. Accessories
1) Power wire, 1 pc
2) BGXP-0.75A fuse, 1 pc
3) BGXP-3A fuse, 1 pc

Lambda Scientific Systems, Inc will take no liability for any injury or damage
that may be caused by improper handling and/or incorrect operation of this
apparatus. Lambda Scientific Systems, Inc assumes no responsibility for the
accuracy and/or the suitability of the information provided in this manual.