Electron dynamics in parallel electric and magnetic fields

Abstract

We examine the spatial distribution of electrons generated by a fixed energy point source in uniform, parallel electric and magnetic fields. This problem is simple enough to permit analytic quantum and semiclassical solution, and it harbors a rich set of features which find their interpretation in the unusual and interesting properties of the classical motion of the electrons: For instance, the number of interfering trajectories can be adjusted in this system, and the turning surfaces of classical motion contain a complex array of singularities. We perform a comprehensive analysis of both the semiclassical approximation and the quantum solution, and we make predictions that should serve as a guide for future photodetachment experiments.

24 pages,12 figures

References in corpus (4)

• Matter waves from quantum sources in a force field
• Ballistic matter waves with angular momentum: Exact solutions and applications
• Four-path interference and uncertainty principle in photodetachment microscopy
• Observed photodetachment in parallel electric and magnetic fields

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Modifying the photodetachment near a metal surface by a weak electric field
• Propagation of charged particle waves in a uniform magnetic field
• Entanglement dynamics via semiclassical propagators in systems of two spins
• Absorption and Injection Models for Open Time-Dependent Quantum Systems
• Time-dependent conserved operators for autonomous systems and quantization of resistance
• Transient capture of electrons in magnetic fields, or: comets in the restricted three-body problem