x
Preface
lowing directly from the preceding step, insofar as this is possible.
For this reason, it is highly recommended that the reader adhere
to the logical sequence, and make the effort to follow the mathematical steps along the way. Problems are included to amplify and
fill in the theoretical details, and to provide practical examples.
Many excellent books have been written over the years on this
general topic. Indeed we have attempted to include these in the
references. As the subject has matured, the various topics have
been treated in increasing detail and precision in the literature. In
order to present an up-to-date review of the subject, it is common
practice for authors to present the main results only, referring the
reader to a list of earlier references for detailed derivations and
justifications. The methodology here is quite different. All of the
ideas presented are derived from first principles of physics. In some
instances this excludes the most recent detailed and precise results
of others. The idea is to convey an intuitive scientific feel for the
subject.
It is standard practice in physics research that, if a particular problem cannot be solved, a related problem is identified which can be
solved. This inevitably involves approximation. This approach is
used here in several instances, most notably in the descriptions of
particle scattering and electron emission from solids.
We begin with a general introduction in Chapter 1, consisting
of a non-mathematical survey of the optical nature of a charged
particle beam. A number of practical systems are described that
highlight the enormous breadth and depth of present-day applications.
Next, Chapter 2 describes geometrical optics. This begins with a
review of relativistic classical mechanics for the motion of a single
particle with general charge q and rest mass m. Based on this, the
principles underlying geometrical optics are then derived, including a prescription for solving for the ray path, which is the physical
path taken by a single particle. This chapter is completely accurate
Preface
lowing directly from the preceding step, insofar as this is possible.
For this reason, it is highly recommended that the reader adhere
to the logical sequence, and make the effort to follow the mathematical steps along the way. Problems are included to amplify and
fill in the theoretical details, and to provide practical examples.
Many excellent books have been written over the years on this
general topic. Indeed we have attempted to include these in the
references. As the subject has matured, the various topics have
been treated in increasing detail and precision in the literature. In
order to present an up-to-date review of the subject, it is common
practice for authors to present the main results only, referring the
reader to a list of earlier references for detailed derivations and
justifications. The methodology here is quite different. All of the
ideas presented are derived from first principles of physics. In some
instances this excludes the most recent detailed and precise results
of others. The idea is to convey an intuitive scientific feel for the
subject.
It is standard practice in physics research that, if a particular problem cannot be solved, a related problem is identified which can be
solved. This inevitably involves approximation. This approach is
used here in several instances, most notably in the descriptions of
particle scattering and electron emission from solids.
We begin with a general introduction in Chapter 1, consisting
of a non-mathematical survey of the optical nature of a charged
particle beam. A number of practical systems are described that
highlight the enormous breadth and depth of present-day applications.
Next, Chapter 2 describes geometrical optics. This begins with a
review of relativistic classical mechanics for the motion of a single
particle with general charge q and rest mass m. Based on this, the
principles underlying geometrical optics are then derived, including a prescription for solving for the ray path, which is the physical
path taken by a single particle. This chapter is completely accurate