Relation of Antimony Transmission and the Photoelectric Yield of Cs–Sb

Abstract

The relation of transmission of thin films of antimony as a function of thickness expressed in micrograms per cm2 has been determined for blue, red, and white illumination. An abrupt change in optical properties of the antimony layer has been noted at the phase change. The transition occurs at a transmission of approximately 30 percent. Photosurfaces have been prepared by activating the deposited antimony films with cesium. The photoelectric yield for both regular and reverse illumination has been determined for different antimony thicknesses. For reverse illumination the peak response occurs between 5.5 and 6.0 micrograms per cm2 of antimony. Expressing the photoresponse for reverse illumination of green light with decreasing transmission of the original antimony layer for blue, white, and red light shows peaks at 82, 88, and 92 percent, respectively. The transmission of the photosurface, which is substantially independent of processing or photoelectric efficiency of the surface, is given for blue, green, and white light.