Electron accelerator build

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the requirements for building an electron accelerator, specifically focusing on the magnetic field strength needed to guide a 20kV @ 60mA electron beam around a 90° turn. Participants explore the necessary parameters, including the speed of electrons and the design of magnetic poles.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the magnetic field strength required for bending an electron beam around a 90° turn, suggesting that additional information may be needed.
  • Another participant explains that electrons will travel independently around the corner and emphasizes the importance of determining the radius of curvature and the dimensions of the magnet poles to effectively enclose the beam.
  • A third participant calculates the speed of the electrons based on the applied voltage and discusses the implications of centripetal force and Lorentz's force law for determining the necessary magnetic field strength.
  • A later reply expresses gratitude for the provided equations and clarifies that the initial question was not intended as a request for homework help.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present various viewpoints and calculations regarding the magnetic field requirements and the design of the accelerator, indicating that multiple competing views remain without a consensus on the optimal approach.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the speed of the electrons and the effects of relativity, as well as the specific design parameters for the magnetic poles and their arrangement along the path.

Rob Hoff
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How strong of a magnetic field do I need to get a 20kv @ 60ma beam around a 90° turn? / Do I need more information to find out?
 
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The electrons go around the corner independently. They will need to travel 90° around a circular path. How much time do you have? What radius do you require?

You will need to determine the dimension of the poles of your magnet. The poles will need to be big enough to enclose the electron beam during the turn, yet small enough to have a high field.

The optimum solution may be to have several magnets along the path. That may explain why accelerators are usually circular.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorentz_force
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyroradius
 
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First you need to know the speed of the electrons. Applying a voltage to a free moving electron will impart kinetic energy to it.

E = V * e = 20kV * 1.6*10^-19 = 3.2*10^-15

and 1/2 * m v^2 = E

so v = (E*2/ m)^0.5 = 8.4*10^7 m/s

Note that I didn't factor in relativity. I'll leave that for you to figure out.

Now you can pick a radius of curvature that you would like, the centripetal force needed for that curvature, and the magnetic field needed to achieve that force from Lorentz's force law and the speed of the electron in your experiment.
 
Hey thanks you guys, and sorry if that sounded like I wanted you guys to do my homework. It really wasn't meant that way. Thanks for the equations. :)

And Baluncore, I have as much time as it takes!
 
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