The fundamental properties of the signal structure in Franck-Hertz experiments are analyzed. The central result is that the spacings between the minima in Franck-Hertz curves are not equidistant but increase linearly with the number of minima. This increase is especially pronounced at low atomic pressure. We suggest that the increase of the spacings is caused by the additional acceleration of electrons over their mean free path after the excitation energy is reached. Our model accurately estimates the lowest excitation energies of mercury and neon atoms and the mean free path of electrons in standard Franck-Hertz experiments. These results contradict the usual assumption that the spacings between successive minima or maxima are equal. We demonstrate that a standard Franck-Hertz apparatus can be upgraded to do more advanced experiments.
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May 01 2006
New features of the Franck-Hertz experiment
Gerald Rapior;
Gerald Rapior
Institut für Laser-Physik,
Universität Hamburg
, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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Klaus Sengstock;
Klaus Sengstock
Institut für Laser-Physik,
Universität Hamburg
, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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Valery Baev
Valery Baev
a)
Institut für Laser-Physik,
Universität Hamburg
, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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a)
Electronic mail: baev@physnet.uni-hamburg.de
Am. J. Phys. 74, 423–428 (2006)
Article history
Received:
September 29 2005
Accepted:
January 20 2006
Citation
Gerald Rapior, Klaus Sengstock, Valery Baev; New features of the Franck-Hertz experiment. Am. J. Phys. 1 May 2006; 74 (5): 423–428. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2174033
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