Mass spectrometry has become an important measurement tool in clinical chemistry, microbiology, toxicology and in the pharmaceutical world.  A mass spectrometer deflects ionized and accelerated molecular fragments using a magnetic field and sorts them according to their charge to mass ratio.  For this exercise you will use the PASCO e/m apparatus like a mass spectrometer to determine the electron's charge to mass ratio, e/m, by measuring the radius of curvature of an electron's path in a uniform magnetic field of known strength.

In the PASCO e/m apparatus a beam of electrons is accelerated through a known potential difference, so the kinetic energy and therefore the velocity of the electrons is known.  A pair of Helmholtz coils can produce a uniform magnetic field at right angles to the electron beam.  This magnetic field then deflects the electron beam in a circular path.  A unique feature of the e/m tube is that the socket rotates, allowing the electron beam to be oriented at any angle (from 0-90 degrees) with respect to the magnetic field produced by the Helmholtz coils.  The vector nature of the magnetic force on moving charged particles can therefore be explored.  A small permanent magnet can also be used to deflect the electron beam.

The e/m Tube

The e/m tube is filled with helium at a pressure of 10^-2 mm Hg.  It contains an electron gun and deflection plates.
The electron beam leaves a visible trail in the tube, because some of the electrons collide with helium atoms.  The atoms are excited and then radiate visible light. 

The electron gun is shown in the figure on the right.  The heater heats the cathode, which emits electrons.  The electrons are accelerated by a potential difference between the cathode and the anode.  A grid is held positive with respect to the cathode and negative with respect to the anode. It helps to focus the electron beam.

The Helmholtz Coils

The radius of the coils is equal to their separation.   This geometry provides a highly uniform magnetic field near the center of the coils.  The Helmholtz coils of the e/m apparatus have a radius and a separation of 15 cm.   Each coil has 130 turns.  The magnetic field B produced by the coils is proportional to the current I through the coils times 7.80*10^-4 T/A.  It is perpendicular to the plane of the coils.

B = (7.80*10^-4 T/A) * I.

The Controls

The control panel of the e/m apparatus is straightforward.  All connections are labeled.

Cloth Hood

The hood can be placed over the top of the e/m apparatus so the experiment can be performed in a lighted room.

Mirrored Scale

A mirrored scale is attached to the back of the rear Helmholtz coil.  It is illuminated when the heater of the electron gun is powered.  By lining the electron beam up with its image in the mirrored scale, the radius of the beam path can be measured without parallax error.

Experiment:  Measuring e/m

Open a Microsoft Word document.  Answer all the questions in blue font.

Power supplies and meters are connected to the to the front panel of the e/m apparatus, as shown in the figure below.

The power supplies are adjusted to the following levels:

• Electron Gun Heater Voltage: 6 VAC
• Acceleration Voltage: 150 to 300 VDC
• Helmholtz Coils Voltage: 6-9 VDC

The current for the Helmholtz coils is adjusted with the current adjust knob.  The ammeter displays the current in units of Ampere (A).

After the cathode has heated up, the electron beam emerges from the electron gun.  Its path is curved by the field from the Helmholtz coils.  The electron beam's path is parallel to the Helmholtz coils.

Carefully read the current to the Helmholtz coils from the ammeter (upper power supply) and the acceleration voltage from the voltmeter (lower power supply) in the picture below.  Record the values in the table 1.

Table 1

Carefully measure the radius of the circular path of the electron beam.  Look through the tube at the electron beam.   Measure the radius of the path as you see it on both sides of the scale, then average the results.  (The markings on the scale are in units of cm.)  Record your result in the table.   Paste your table into your Word document.

To earn extra credit add your name and e-mail address to your Word document.  Save your Word document (your name_exm7.docx), go to Canvas, Assignments, Extra Credit 7, and submit your document.