LD

Electricity
Physics
Free charge carriers in a vacuum Leaflets P3.8.5.1
Thomson tube

Investigating the deflection of

electrons in electrical and
magnetic fields

Objects of the experiments

Investigation of the deflection of electrons in the electrical field of a plate capacitor

Investigation of the deflection of electrons in the magnetic field of a Helmholtz pair of coils

Principles
In the Thomson tube (electron deflection tube) the deflection
of electrons in electric and magnetic fields can be quantita-
tively investigated. The existence of cathode rays, the
straight-line movement in field-free space and the deflection
in electric and magnetic fields was qualitatively investigated in
experiments with the vacuum tube diode (555 610), the vac-
uum tube triode (555 612) and the Maltese cross tube
(555 620).
In the Thomson tube all the electrons pass a slit aperture
behind the anode and tangentially hit a luminous screen with
a cm grid which is set up at an angle to the path of the light.,
Here the electron beam becomes visible and allows quantita-
tive analysis. At the outlet of the slit aperture a plate capacitor
is mounted where the electron beam can be vertically de-
flected by an electrostatic field. In addition the electron beam
can be deflected in the magnetic field of a Helmholtz pair of
coils.
In the electric field an electron moves on a parabola-shaped
curve. If the electron is accelerated by a given anode voltage
UA and then passes through the electric field of a plate ca-
pacitor with the voltage UP and the distance between the
plates is d, the following applies for the path
Fig. 1: Deflection in the electric field or in the magnetic field
E
y= ⋅ x2 . (1)
4 ⋅U A
If the values for x and y are read off, in addition the specific
On account of the construction of the tube, the electric field is charge can be estimated
smaller then the value expected according to theory. This can e 2UA
be taken into account in the experiment by a correction factor: = . (5)
m (B ⋅ r )2
U
Eexp = 0,75 ⋅ Etheo = 0,75 ⋅ . (2)
d
In the magnetic field of a Helmholtz pair of coils, at right an-
gles to the axis of the beam an electron will move on a circu-
lar track. For the curve along a circular track the following
applies
2 ⋅ m ⋅ UA
y = r − r 2 − x 2 with r = . (3)
e⋅B
The radius r depends on the anode voltage UA and the mag-
netic field of the pair of coils.
3
 4 2 N ⋅ I
B = µ0 ⋅   ⋅ (4)
CS-1006

5 R
with current I, number of windings N and coil radius R.

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Fig. 2: Deflection in an electric field Fig. 3: Deflection in the magnetic field

Safety note: Carrying out the experiment

The Thomson tube is a thin-walled evacuated glass cylinder. - Measure the distance d between the capacitor plates.
Danger of implosion! - Switch on the high voltage power supply. Now the cathode
- Do not expose the tube to any mechanical loads. is being heated.
- Slowly increase the anode voltage UA and observe the
- Only connect the Thomson tube by means of safety con-
nection leads. beam slowly increasing in brightness at the centre of the
luminous screen.
- Observe the operating instructions for the Thomson tube
(555 624) and the tube stand (555 600). Deflection in an electric field
- While UA < 5 kV is kept at a fixed value slowly increase the
Setup voltage at the capacitor plates UP and observe the change
The experimental setup is shown in fig. 1. The connections to the beam.
are also shown in fig. 2 for the deflection in the electric field - For different values of UA and UP read the value pairs (x; y)
and in fig. 3 for the deflection in the magnetic field. The for the track from the luminous screen. Then return the
100kΩ resistance is integrated in the tube stand (555 600). voltage UP to zero.
For setting up, the steps described below are required:
Deflection in the magnetic field
- Carefully insert the Thomson tube into the tube stand.
- While UA < 5 kV is kept at a fixed value slowly increase the
- Connect sockets F1 and F2 on the tube stand for the cath-
current I through the Helmholtz pair of coils and observe
ode heater to the 10 kV output at the rear of the high volt- the change to the beam.
age power supply.
- For different values of UA and I read the value pairs (x; y)
- Connect socket C on the tube stand (cathode cap of the
from the luminous screen.
Thomson tube) to the negative pole and socket A (anode)
to the positive pole of the 10 kV high voltage power supply Measuring example and evaluation
and in addition earth the positive pole. The distance between the capacitor plates was d = 5.5 cm.
- Place the Helmholtz pair of coils in the positions marked
Deflection in the electric field
with H (Helmholtz geometry) on the tube stand. A deviation
from the Helmholtz geometry will lead to systematic errors If the voltage at the capacitor plates is increased, the elec-
in the calculation of the magnetic field. For this reason trons are deflected on a parabola-shaped track. The direction
such a deviation should be kept as small as possible. Ad- of the deflection depends on the polarity of the applied volt-
just the height of the coils in such a way that the centres of age, the degree of the deflection on the applied voltage.
the coils are aligned to the level of the beam axis. For UA = 4.0 kV and various values of UP value pairs (x; y)
- Connect the coils in series to the direct current power were read off. The results are shown in the table below and in
supply so that the current indicated at the power supply fig. T4.
corresponds to that flowing through the coils. Ensure that
the current flows in the same direction through the coils. Curves of the shape y = A ⋅ x 2 were matched to the measured
- Connect one capacitor plate to the positive pole at the values (by means of CASSY Lab) and in addition entered in
right-hand output, the other to the negative pole of the left- fig. 4. The curves correspond well to the measured values.
hand output of the second 10 kV high voltage power sup-
ply and earth the middle socket of the high voltage power
supply.

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LD Physics Leaflets -3- P3.8.5.1

y / cm plied magnetic field, equation 5 can be used to estimate from

x / cm this the specific charge. The number of windings of the coils
UP = 2.0 kV UP = 3.0 kV UP = 5.0 kV is N = 320, the average coil radius is R = 6.7 cm. The results
1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 for three value pairs are summarised in the table below.
2.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 e C
UA/kV I/A x/cm y/cm r/cm B/mT / 1011
3.0 0.2 0.2 0.3 m kg
4.0 0.3 0.4 0.6
4.0 0.10 9.0 0.9 45.5 0.429 2.1
5.0 0.5 0.6 0.9
4.0 0.15 9.0 1.4 18.1 0.644 2.2
6.0 0.6 0.9 1.3
4.0 0.26 9.0 2.4 9.62 1.12 1.9
7.0 0.8 1.2 1.8
8.0 1.1 1.6 2.3
This results in an average value for the specific charge of
9.0 1.4 2.0
e C
From the formula for the track (equation 1 and equation 2) = 2.1 1011 .
m kg
E UP
y= ⋅ x 2 = 0,75 ⋅ ⋅ x2 e0 C
4 ⋅U A 4 ⋅U A ⋅ d Literature value = 1.7588 1011
the value of ytheo was also calculated for a number of exam- m0 kg
ples for a given x.
UA /kV UP/kV x/cm y/cm ytheo/cm y 3
cm
4.0 2.0 9.0 1.4 1.4
UP = 5,0 kV
4.0 3.0 9.0 2.0 2.1
4.0 5.0 8.0 2.3 2.7 2
UP = 3,0 kV
Deflection in the magnetic field
If the current through the Helmholtz pair of coils is increased,
the electrons are deflected onto a circular track. The direction 1
of the deflection is determined by the polarity of the applied UP = 2,0 kV
voltage, e.g. by the direction of the current flow. The size of
the deflection depends on the current, i.e. on the strength of
the magnetic field.
0
For various values of UA and I value pairs (x; y) were read off.
The results are shown in the table below and in fig. 5. 0 5 10

y / cm x / cm
x / cm
I = 100 mA I = 150 mA I = 260 mA Fig. 4: Deflection in the electric field

1.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 y 3

cm
2.0 0.1 0.1 0.2
3.0 0.15 0.2 0.3 I = 260 mT
2
4.0 0.2 0.4 0.5
5.0 0.3 0.5 0.8
6.0 0.5 0.6 1.2 I = 150 mT
7.0 0.6 0.9 1.5 1
8.0 0.8 1.1 1.9
9.0 0.9 1.4 2.4 I = 100 mT
0
Curves of the shape y = R ⋅ R 2 − ( x − A)2 were matched to the
0 5 10
measured values (by means of CASSY Lab) and in addition
entered in fig. 5. The parameter corresponds to a shift along x / cm
the axis.
Figure 5: Deflection in the magnetic field
The curves correspond well to the measured values. The
parameter A is approx. 0.8 cm. The magnetic field of the pair
of coils extends beyond the area of the plate capacitor; for
this reason the electron beam is deflected before it reaches
the mica plate.
If one uses the value pairs with equation 3 to calculate the
radius of the curve and with equation 4 to calculate the ap-

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Notes
In the experiment the electrons are accelerated between a
negatively charged cathode and an earthed anode (see cir-
cuit diagrams in figures 2 and 3). The capacitor plates are
connected in such a way that the centre of the mica plate is at
zero potential (see circuit diagram in figures 2 and 3). This
means that between the anode and the mica plate no field is
active and therefore there are no accelerating/braking forces
on the electrons. The speed of the electrons when entering
the capacitor plates can then be calculated from the accelera-
tion voltage UA. The deflection of the electrons in the electric
field of the capacitor is given in equation 1.
If the anode and the centre of the mica plate are at a different
potential, the potential difference must also be taken into
account when calculating the electron speed. Equation 1
cannot be used for calculating the deflection in the electric
field of the capacitor.

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 LD
Electricity
Physics
Free charge carriers in a vacuum Leaflets P3.8.5.2
Thomson tube

Assembling a velocity filter (Wien

filter) to determine the specific
electron charge

Objects of the experiments

Structure of the velocity filter (Wien filter)

Determination of the specific electron charge

Principles
In the Thomson tube the deflection of electrons in electric and
magnetic fields can be investigated quantitatively. The
superposition of an electric and a magnetic field allows the
construction of a velocity filter (Wien filter).
In the Thomson tube all the electrons pass through a slit
aperture behind the anode and tangentially hit a luminous
screen with a cm grid which is set up at an angle to the path
of the light., Here the electron beam becomes visible and
allows quantitative analysis. At the outlet of the slit aperture a
plate capacitor is set up where the electron beam can be
vertically deflected in an electrostatic field. In addition, by
means of a Helmholtz pair of coils, an external magnet field
can be set up which also allows vertical deflection of the
electron beam.
In the experiment a velocity filter (Wien filter) is set up. For
the fixed anode voltage UA the voltage at the plate capacitor
UP and the current through the Helmholtz pair of coils I is
selected in such a way that the deflections from the electric
and the magnetic fields just cancel each other out at the
outlet of the plate capacitor. If UA and therefore speed of the
electron speed is changed, it is apparent that this
compensation without a change of UP and I is only possible at
Fig. 1: Experimental setup
2 ⋅ e ⋅ UA
a speed of v = and that the electron beam is
m
Apparatus
deflected once again. Only by changing UP or I can the
deflection be compensated for again. 1 electron deflection tube .......................................555 624
1 tube stand............................................................555 600
In addition this setup allows more precise determination of
the specific electron charge. When UP and I are chosen in 1 Helmholtz pair of coils .........................................555 604
such a way that the electric and the magnetic field exactly 2 high voltage power supplies ................................521 70
compensate the specific charge is 1 DC power supply 0 – 16 V / 0 – 5 A.....................521 545
2 2 safety connection leads, 25 cm, red ....................500 611
e 1 E 
= ⋅  . (1) 1 safety connection lead, 50 cm, red ......................500 621
m 2UA  B 
1 safety connection lead, 50 cm, blue ....................500 622
On account of the tube construction, the electric field is 3 safety connection leads, 100 cm, red ..................500 641
smaller than the value to be expected theoretically. This can 3 safety connection leads, 100 cm, blue.................500 642
be taken into account in the experiment by a correction factor: 2 safety connection leads, 100 cm, black ...............500 544
U
Eexp = 0,75 ⋅ Etheo = 0,75 ⋅ . (2) The magnetic field B can be calculated using
d
3
4 2 N ⋅I
CS-1006

B = µ0 ⋅   ⋅ (3)
5 R
with current I, number of windings N and coil radius R. d is
the distance between the capacitor plates.

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P3.8.5.2 -2- LD Physics Leaflets

- While UA < 5 kV is kept at a fixed value slowly increase the

voltage at the capacitor plates UP and observe the change
to the beam.
- Increase the current through the Helmholtz pair of coils I
just enough that the deflection on account of the electric
field at the capacitor output is just compensated for (if
necessary, reverse current flow).
- Maintain UP and I at fixed values and vary UA and observe
the changes to the beam.
- For various values of UA select UP and I in such a way that
UP the deflection on account of the electric and the magnetic
fields just compensate, and enter the values in a table.
Measuring example and evaluation
For various UA values the value pairs (UP; I) were read off
Fig. 2: Circuit diagram (see table) where compensation was achieved. The distance
between the capacitor plates was d = 5.5 cm.
Safety note: From the equations 2 and 3 the values for the electric field E
The Thomson tube is a thin-walled evacuated glass cylinder. are obtained and for the magnetic field B. The number of
Danger of implosion! windings of the coils is N = 320, the average coil radius is R
= 6.7 cm. This allows the specific charge to be calculated
- Do not expose the tube to any mechanical loads.
using equation 1. The results are shown in the table below.
- Connect the Thomson tube only by means of safety
connection leads. e C
UA /kV UP /kV I/A E / kV/m B/mT / 1011
- Observe the operating instructions for the Thomson tube m kg
(555 624) and the tube stand (555 600).
3.0 4.0 0.38 55 1.6 1.9
Setup
4.0 4.0 0.33 55 1.4 1.9
The experimental setup is shown in figure 1. The connections
5.0 4.0 0.30 55 1.3 1.8
are also shown in figure 2. The 100 kΩ resistance is
integrated in the tube stand (555 600). For setting up, the
steps described below are required: This results in an average value for the specific charge of
e V
- Carefully insert the Thomson tube into the tube stand. = 1.87 ⋅ 1011 .
m kg
- Connect sockets F1 and F2 on the tube stand for the
cathode heater to the 6.3 V output at the rear of the high e0 V
Literature value = 1.7588 ⋅ 1011
voltage power supply 10 kV. m0 kg
- Connect socket C on the tube stand (cathode cap of the
Note:
Thomson tube) to the negative pole and socket A (anode)
to the positive pole of the 10 kV high voltage power supply Even for optimum compensation the electron beam will not
and in addition earth the positive pole. precisely run along the zero line. Outside the capacitor areas
- Place the Helmholtz pair of coils in the positions marked
the magnetic field of the Helmholtz pair of coils is not zero but
with H (Helmholtz geometry) on the tube stand. A deviation it slowly increases. In that area the magnetic field cannot be
from the Helmholtz geometry will lead to systematic errors compensated for by the electric field from the capacitor plates
in the calculation of the magnetic field. For this reason and this leads to a small deviation of the electron beam from
such a deviation should be kept as small as possible. the zero line.
Adjust the height of the coils in such a way that the centres In the experiment the electrons are accelerated between a
of the coils are aligned to the level of the beam axis. negatively charged cathode and an earthed anode (see
- Connect the coils in series to the direct current power circuit diagrams in figures 2 and 3). The capacitor plates are
supply so that the current flows through the coils in the connected in such a way that the centre of the mica plate is at
same direction. Ensure that the current flows in the same zero potential (see circuit diagram in figures 2 and 3). This
direction through the coils. means that between the anode and the mica plate no field is
active and therefore there are no accelerating/braking forces
- Connect one capacitor plate to the positive pole at the
on the electrons. The speed of the electrons when entering
right-hand output, the other to the negative pole of the left- the capacitor plates can then be calculated from the
hand output of the second 10 kV high voltage power acceleration voltage UA. If the anode and the centre of the
supply and earth the middle socket of the high voltage mica plate are at a different potential, the potential difference
power supply. must also be taken into account when calculating the electron
Carrying out the experiment speed.
- Measure the distance d between the capacitor plates.
- Switch on the high voltage power supply. Now the cathode
is being heated.
- Slowly increase the anode voltage UA and observe the
beam slowly increasing in brightness at the centre of the
luminous screen.

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