Calculation of electron trajectories using a resistor network and digital computer

A rapid and accurate method of tracing electron trajectories in electrostatic fields is useful in the design of many electron devices. In the procedure described, the fields of particular electrode systems are found with a precision resistor network designed for axially symmetric problems. The field data from the network is in the form of a potential not convenient for numerical calculation of electron trajectories. Two numerical methods are used. in the first method, the r-coordinate is written in a Taylor´s series neglecting third and higher order terms. The second derivative of r in this expression is found from the general ray equation. The values of potential and field components along the trajectory are calculated by numerical interpolation and differentiation of the field data.