Actino-electric effects are observed in argentite and it is shown that the seat of conversion of light into electronic energy occurs both at the contacts as well as at certain spots on the crystal. The effect is found to be absent if the crystal structure is destroyed. The actino-electric current-intensity curves show a peculiar secondary effect at certain intensities. On investigation of the actino-electric e.m.f.'s with reference to varying times of exposure and constant times of recovery it is found that an exponential relation exists between them which can be represented by $i=A{e}^{-at}$. The $a$, however, is not a constant but increases with time of recovery and is the determining factor in the dark current and photoelectric hysteresis of the crystal. It may be very intimately connected with the positive part of the primary photoelectric current as described by Gudden and Pohl.

Close

PrevNext

View figure in article