Accelerating particles with E-fields near current carrying conductors

[Wo Wala Moiz]

Any conductor with resistance will develop an electric field. This electric field "leaks" outside the conductor, though its strength falls off with the cube of distance.

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/electric-field-outside-of-a-current-carrying-wire.431870/

So, shouldn't it be possible to accelerate particles with this electric field?

 

[BvU]

In which direction ?

$\$

 

[Wo Wala Moiz]

In which direction ?

$\$

In the direction of the current in the wire.

 

[BvU]

Is that the direction of the "leaking" field ?

$\$

 

[Wo Wala Moiz]

Is that the direction of the "leaking" field ?

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Yes.

In an infinitely long, straight wire, there would be no electric field outside the wire.

 

[mfb]

It's possible, sure. It's a horribly inefficient use of wires. Just remove the wire and you can produce much stronger fields, without a power loss in a wire.

 

[Wo Wala Moiz]

It's possible, sure. It's a horribly inefficient use of wires. Just remove the wire and you can produce much stronger fields, without a power loss in a wire.

But with this setup, one can accelerate a particle with a constant force, without needing to coordinate a series of oscillating electric fields.

 

[renormalize]

But with this setup, one can accelerate a particle with a constant force, without needing to coordinate a series of oscillating electric fields.

Why not just use the strong electric field that exists between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor at high DC voltage?

 

[Wo Wala Moiz]

Why not just use the strong electric field that exists between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor at high DC voltage?

Because the field gets weaker with distance from the two plates. Plus, you can't curve the electric field like you can with a current carrying conductor.

 

[mfb]

Just remove the wire. Same field, no pointless power dissipation. You re-invented the simplest linear accelerator. It will be limited by the static electric fields you can provide.

 

[Wo Wala Moiz]

Just remove the wire. Same field, no pointless power dissipation. You re-invented the simplest linear accelerator. It will be limited by the static electric fields you can provide.

If there are two oppositely charged plates in a vacuum 100 meters from each other, will the electric field intensity in the middle be as intense as the electric field intensity a quarter of the distance from either plate?

 

[renormalize]

If there are two oppositely charged plates in a vacuum 100 meters from each other, will the electric field intensity in the middle be as intense as the electric field intensity a quarter of the distance from either plate?

Yes, the electric field intensity $E$ is constant throughout the interior region between the plates and away from the edges:

Its value is given by $E=\frac{\Delta V}{d}$, where $\Delta V$ is the voltage difference between the plates.