The interaction between the electromagnetic field in a cavity and an electron beam projected along the axis of the cavity is examined. The particular cavity considered here is of the cylindrical TE11nztype in a steady axial magnetic field. If the cavity is excited in a linearly polarized mode, the electromagnetic field will drive the electrons in a helical trajectory with an expanding radius, and the electrons will excite and transfer energy to a degenerate mode oriented spatially at right angles to the driving field. In the driving plane of polarization (both planes of polarization if the cavity is excited in a circularly polarized mode), the electron beam will excite a field in phase opposition to the driving field in a manner analogous to the counter e.m.f. in an electromechanical generator. The converse case of a TE11nzcavity excited by a spiral beam of electrons is also considered.