Magnetic Effects on the Transmission of Electrons through an Aperture and Their Application to the Retarding-Potential-Difference Technique

Abstract

The effect of magnetic fields on the transmission of electrons through an aperture is discussed as a function of the field strength and aperture diameter. The effect of a potential barrier on the source distribution is calculated. These results are then applied to an R.P.D. calculation for two potential barrier configurations, using a linear excitation function. Distortion of the excitation function and the occurrence of negative difference signals are discussed. It is concluded that the effects of nonlinear transmission function and barrier modification are sufficient to explain many of the secondary attendant phenomena arising in the R.P.D. technique.