The Surface Photoelectric Effect

Abstract

An expression is derived for the photoelectric current produced at the surface of a metal, the conduction electrons being supposed free and the potential barrier of arbitrary shape. The validity of the common assumption that the current arising from conduction electrons of a particular momentum can be expressed as the product of an excitation function and a transmission coefficient is examined. It is concluded that the assumption is in general valid. The production in the photoelectric current of beat frequencies between spectral lines is also briefly discussed.