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An expression is derived for the photoelectric current produced at the surface of a metal, the conduction electrons being supposed free and the potential barrier of arbitrary shape. The validity of the common assumption that the current arising from conduction electrons of a particular momentum can be expressed as the product of an excitation function and a transmission coefficient is examined. It is concluded that the assumption is in general valid. The production in the photoelectric current of beat frequencies between spectral lines is also briefly discussed.
R E B Makinson (Wed,) studied this question.