Fowler's theory of photoelectric emission is discussed from the viewpoint of the experimental physicist and several significant consequences of the theory in analyzing experimental data pointed out. A new graphical method of testing the theory is suggested. This method makes it possible to determine the "true" photoelectric threshold of a surface from photocurrent-temperature curves taken at a single incident frequency, eliminating the necessity of measuring relative intensities of spectral lines. The method is applied to new experimental data on palladium and to Morris' data on gold and found to be completely successful, thus furnishing additional verification of Fowler's theory.

• Received 12 November 1931

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.39.108