The Effect of Recombination on the Primary Photo-Electric Current from a Crystal

Abstract

Taking into account recombination, mathematical expressions are derived for the primary photo-electric current to be expected from crystals both when the light is normal to the electric field and when the light is parallel and opposite to the electric field. On comparing with the experiments on rock salt it is found that recombination is sufficient to account for the drop in current with time. The decrease in current when the light is opposite to the field and most strongly absorbed, is shown to be partially accounted for by recombination. The effect of the unknown process causing the major portion of the drop is thus isolated and a more rigorous test of any theory which may be proposed to account for it made possible.

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