On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:14:07 -0800 (PST), art
wrote:

My understanding is that it only takes a moderate magnetic field
to levitate a free electron, which is a world of difference
from what you are saying

Hi Arthur,

The difference is I have experience in the matter, you don't. All you
have to go on are books.

Let's just take one very simple example about magnetic fields and
electrons: The Magnetron!

Do you know what's in a Magnetron? I doubt it. You will have to look
it up in one of your books, whereas I've held on in my hands while
servicing a transmitter.

So, already knowing you haven't got a clue about what is in a
Magnetron, then I will tell you. Cathode, Anode, and Magnet - nothing
else to get in the way.

So, there you have your magnet, and it is whopping big one too with a
whopping bloody field that goes waaaaaaaay beyond what you call
moderate (moderate is about 12 orders of magnitude toooooo small in
comparison!).

Does this magnet rip electrons right out of the metal? It would rip
apart the metal first before that happened. And yet electrons fly
from Cathode to Anode ONLY when the Cathode is HEATED! What is more,
the magnet is utterly unnecessary for those electrons to flow.

Ever wonder why Cathodes (or filaments) are heated? Well, in this
case (as in all other cases) because the Magnet doesn't have the oomph
to pull the electrons off the cold, cold Cathode. If a magnet can't
do it, electrons are certainly not going to jump off an antenna - not
unless there is sufficient potential to cause corona. Even then they
don't go very far - not even a foot. Corona doesn't measurably add to
DX unless you are at sea signaling by semaphore.

Now, can you tell us what a "work function" is? If you could, then
this nonsense about levitating electrons would collapse.

I will give you a week to do your research. :-)

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC