Energy Distributions of Photoelectrons from Metals due to a Surface Effect

Abstract

Expressions are derived for the distribution in total energy of photoelectrons from a metal on the basis of the alternative assumptions concerning the photon absorption process made by DuBridge and by Fowler. The calculations are exact, avoiding the usual approximation that the frequency of the incident light must be near the threshold frequency. Expressions are given not only for the distribution in energy of electrons emitted in all directions but also for the energy distribution as a function of emission angle.