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Universal Behavior

Consider data from a series of photoelectric experiments on a single sample, where the photocurrent tex2html_wrap_inline502 is measured as a function of applied voltage V and the brightness B and frequency tex2html_wrap_inline508 of the light source.

Why, for fixed values of V and tex2html_wrap_inline508 , are we guaranteed that tex2html_wrap_inline514 always gives the same value regardless of B? Would you expect this to break down at extremely low illuminations? If so, how? Would you expect this to break down at extremely high illuminations? If so, how?

If we increase the energy of the photons and increase the retarding potential by the corresponding amount, why do we not get the same current?



Prof. Tomas Alberto Arias
Thu Feb 6 11:34:49 EST 1997