The energy distribution of photoelectrons, emitted from the surface of a metal has been analyzed on the basis of four models of absorption of a photon by an electron, including the ones, proposed by Fowler and DuBridge. In contrast to some earlier work the transmission coefficient as a function of normal energy has been accounted for. The experimental energy distribution, of photoelectrons for molybdenum is in better agreement with the theoretical (DuBridge, as modified herein) energy distribution corresponding to the enhancement of total (not normal) energy of an electron by the absorption of a photon, than that corresponding to the enhancement of normal energy. The theoretical results do not depend appreciably on the site of absorption of a photon by an electron (on the surface or inside the metal). The dependence of mean energy on frequency of radiation has also been discussed. The original derivation by DuBridge has been improved by discarding a couple of unjustified assumptions made by him.
Read full abstract