The average work functions of vacuum-deposited thorium films and of thorium foil have been measured by the Kelvin contact potential difference method, under ultra-high vacuum conditions. A reproducible value of 3.455 ± 0.012 ev was found for the work function of the vacuum-deposited films. In the case of the foil, the work function increased continuously with the duration of electron bombardment, eventually reaching a limiting value of 3.728 ± 0.010 ev after ninety-seven hours of bombardment. Reasons are discussed for identifying this value with the average work function of well-aged, polycrystalline thorium.
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J C Rivière (1962) studied this question.
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