electron optics

[Allan Adler]

As I understand what I've read about electron optics, one basically
reduces the problem of electron motion to the motion of light in
a medium whose index of refraction is different at every point.
Such a medium may be described as "inhomogeneous". I could be mistaken
but I also have the impression that this inhomogeneous medium is also
isotropic, in the sense that at any given point the index of refraction
is the same in all directions at that point.

What I would like to know is whether there are any conditions under which
electron optics can be described by light in a medium which is possibly
still inhomogeneous but but which is anisotropic. If so, please let me
know where I can read about it, preferably in books.

Ignorantly,
Allan Adler
[email protected]

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[Phil Hobbs]

As I understand what I've read about electron optics, one basically
reduces the problem of electron motion to the motion of light in
a medium whose index of refraction is different at every point.
Such a medium may be described as "inhomogeneous". I could be mistaken
but I also have the impression that this inhomogeneous medium is also
isotropic, in the sense that at any given point the index of refraction
is the same in all directions at that point.

What I would like to know is whether there are any conditions under which
electron optics can be described by light in a medium which is possibly
still inhomogeneous but but which is anisotropic. If so, please let me
know where I can read about it, preferably in books.

Haven't got a reference, but you can make a spin sorter using electric
and magnetic fields, which is a good analogy to an anistoropic optical
medium. n

Cheers,

Phil Hobbs