ТHE SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE CHARGED PARTICLE MOTION IN AN ELECTRIC FIELD AND THE LIGHT BEAM PROPAGATION IN A TRANSPARENT MEDIUM

Abstract

The similarity between the charged particle motion in an electrostatic field, and the light beam propagation in refracting transparent medium is considered. The existing similarity makes it possible to apply the concepts and methods of the ordinary geometrical optics in an absolutely new branch of science – “electronic optics”. It also makes it possible to construct electronic devices (electronic microscope, modern oscillograph tubes) similar to the corresponding optical instruments.