A new and relatively simple method has been developed to focus and guide electron beams without the use of a magnetic field. The scheme relies on the electrostatic charging of a highly resistive wire in the presence of a beam. The beam is then strongly guided and focused by the oppositely charged wire. In addition, the highly anharmonic nature of the wire potential leads to rapid phase-mix damping of transverse beam displacements and radial pulsations.

• Received 4 April 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.51.723