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Basil Fawlty
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I thought that a nearly parallel entry path would result in a helix of very small, but constant, radius. I would not expect the electrons to focus at a point, but continue along the infinite helix. What have I missed?
An electron helix is a spiral-shaped path that an electron follows when it moves through a magnetic field. This phenomenon is caused by the interaction between the magnetic field and the charged particle.
A magnetic field exerts a force on an electron due to its charge. This force causes the electron to move in a curved path, resulting in the spiral shape of the electron helix.
The electron helix is important in understanding the behavior of charged particles in magnetic fields, which has applications in fields such as particle accelerators, nuclear physics, and astrophysics. It is also a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics.
Yes, the direction of the electron helix can be changed by altering the strength or direction of the magnetic field. This is known as the Lorentz force and is described by the right-hand rule in physics.
Yes, there are many real-world examples of electron helixes, including in the design of electron microscopes, particle accelerators, and MRI machines. The phenomenon is also observed in the auroras in Earth's atmosphere, where charged particles from the sun spiral along Earth's magnetic field lines.