Abstract: An electron-beam furnace for melting and refining metals in a trough-like hearth by scanning high-intensity, narrow electron beams across the hearth is provided with a wire coil located near the hearth for producing a relatively weak magnetic field in the vicinity of the molten metal in the hearth to prevent erratic local beam deflections caused by fluctuations in the plasma that forms in the vicinity of the molten metal. The use of the weak magnetic field allows the electron beams projected by remotely positioned electron guns to be accurately scanned across the hearth by deflection yokes associated with the electron guns.