An electron beam is deflected when it passes over a silicon nitride surface, if the surface is illuminated by a low-power continuous-wave diode laser. A deflection angle of up-to $1.2 ,textrm{mrad}$ is achieved for an electron beam of $29 ,mutextrm{rad}$ divergence. A mechanical beam-stop is used to demonstrate that the effect can act as an optical electron switch with a rise and fall time of $6 ,mutextrm{s}$. Such a switch provides an alternative means to control electron beams, which may be useful in electron lithography and microscopy.
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