The Motion of Ions in Constant Fields

Abstract

It is shown that the effect of a constant electrical or gravitational force $F$ on ions passing through a constant magnetic field $H$ is to cause the circular or helical ion paths to advance in a direction at right angles to both $F$ and $H$ with the constant velocity $u=\frac{c[F\times H]}{e{H}^2}.$ Ion paths relative to a rotating earth are discussed on the assumption that the earth's field is purely magnetic relative to the inertial system of the center of the earth. The essential features of the theory are shown to be unaltered if the constant mass of the classical theory is replaced by the variable mass of the relativity theory.