What would happen if a stream of electrons hits a conductor?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of a stream of electrons hitting a conductor, specifically focusing on the interactions that may occur with materials like copper plating. Participants explore the detectability of these interactions and consider various energy levels of the electrons.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses curiosity about the effects of electrons on a conductor and questions whether these effects would be detectable.
  • Another participant suggests that low-energetic electrons may charge the conductor slightly, with detectability depending on the conductor's size and the number of electrons.
  • A participant draws an analogy to a lightning rod to prompt further thought on the expected outcomes of such interactions.
  • It is noted that high-energy electrons could lead to X-ray emission from the conductor, similar to processes in a conventional X-ray tube.
  • A reference to a Faraday cup is provided as a potential method for detecting the effects of electron streams.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple perspectives on the effects of electron streams on conductors, with no consensus reached on the specifics of detectability or the outcomes based on varying electron energies.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about electron energy levels and the physical properties of conductors, which may influence the outcomes mentioned. The detectability of the effects is also contingent on the experimental setup and the sensitivity of the detection methods used.

James12345678
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I don't know much about particle physics, but out of curiosity I was wondering what would happen if a stream of electrons hit a conductor, say copper plating, an would it be detectible?
 
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Assuming low-energetic electrons: the conductor gets charged a bit. This can be detectable, it depends on the size of the conductor and the amount of electrons.

If you want to detect small amounts of electrons, CCDs could be interesting, with more sensitive devices available if necessary.
 
Think of a lightning rod on the roof when it is struck by lightning. What do you expect to happen?
 
James12345678 said:
I don't know much about particle physics, but out of curiosity I was wondering what would happen if a stream of electrons hit a conductor, say copper plating, an would it be detectible?
As mfb hinted at, it depends what energy your electrons have, for high energy electrons you will get X-ray emission from the sample as in a conventional X-ray tube.
 
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