AC Methods for the Determination of Photoelectron Energy Distributions

Abstract

The sensitivity of the Spicer‐Berglund retarding‐potential method for the determination of photoelectron energy distributions may be improved by an order of magnitude by a more effective cancellation of the capacitative component of the signal. A double modulation technique, in which energy distributions can be traced from saturated photocurrents of the order of 10⁻¹¹ A, is also described. This method can be employed to eliminate steady thermionic or photoelectric currents many orders of magnitude greater than that under investigation.