Abstract
ZENER has recently1 discussed Fowler's theory2 of the spectral selective photo-electric effect, and concludes that it is incapable of explaining the observed order of magnitude of the emitted current. Inasmuch as a direct calculation3 of the photo-electric emission from a pure metal yields a spectral distribution curve differing only slightly from typical experimental curves for selective emitters, except as regards order of magnitude, the author considers Zener is right in stressing this last point as the main feature to be explained by a successful theory. Nevertheless, Zener's objection is not sufficient to dispose of Fowler's theory.
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References
C. Zener, Phys. Rev., 47, 15; 1935.
R. H. Fowler, Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 128, 123; 1930.
G. Wentzel, “Sommerfeld Festschrift”, 79; 1928. H. Fröhlich, Ann. Phys., 7, 109; 1930. I. Tamm and S. Schubin, Z. Phys., 68, 97; 1931. A. Sommerfeld and H. Bethe, “Geiger-Scheel Handbuch der Physik”, 2nd ed., 24/2, 468; 1933. K. Mitchell, Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 146, 442; 1934.
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MITCHELL, K. The Spectral Selective Photo-Electric Effect. Nature 135, 789–790 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/135789b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/135789b0
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