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7. The Franck-Hertz Experiment

Elastic and inelastic scattering of electrons from atoms. The excitation potential and ionization potential of the mercury atom are determined from measurements of the critical accelerating potentials at which electrons lose energy by inelastic scattering in mercury vapor.

Student Wiki: Franck-Hertz Experiment

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References (certificates required)

Franck-Hertz Experiment

  1. [1951] D. Bohm, Quantum Theory, (Prentice Hall, N.J., 1951) "Square Potential Solutions," pp. 229-263.
  2. [1952] E. Bleuler and G.J. Goldsmith, Experimental Nucleonics, (Rinehart, New York, 1952) "Charged Particle Spectra", pp. 342-346.
  3. [1966] A.C. Melissinos, Experiments in Modern Physics, (Academic Press, San Diego, 1966), "The Franck-Hertz Experiment," pp. 8-17.
  4. [1966] A. C. Melissinos, Experiments in Modern Physics, (Academic Press, San Diego, 1966), "Thermionic Emissions of Electrons from Metals", 65-80.
  5. [1968] L.I. Schiff, Quantum Mechanics, (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1968) "Ramsauer-Townsend Effect," pp. 108-110.
  6. [1978] G.P. Harnwell and J.J. Livinwood, Experimental Atomic Physics, (R. E. Krieger, Huntington, N.Y., 1978) "Experiments on Excitation Potentails; Experiments in Ionization Potentials", pp. 314-320.
  7. [2006] G. Rapior, K. Sengstock, and V. Baeva, American Journal of Physics, (Vol. 74, No. 5, May 2006), "New features of the Franck-Hertz experiment", pp. 423-428.

Ramsauer-Townsend Effect Experiment

  1. [1951] D. Bohm, Quantum Theory, (Prentice Hall, N.J., 1951) "Ramsauer-Townsend," pp. 564-573.
  2. [1955] F.K. Richtmyer, E.H. Kennard and T. Lauritsen, Introduction to Modern Physics, (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1955) pp. 274-279.
  3. [1965] N.F. Mott and H.S.W. Massey, The Theory of Atomic Collisions, (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1965) "Ramsauer-Townsend," pp. 562-579.
  4. [1968] S.G. Kukolich, "Demonstration of the Ramsauer-Townsend Effect in a Xenon Thyratron", Am. J. Phys. 36, 701-703 (1968).

Selected Resources

     
  1. Homebuilt Voltage Supply Box Schematic
  2. Franck Hertz (Gray Box) Tube and Apparatus Description
  3. Franck Hertz (Orange Box) Apparatus Description
  4. Vapor Pressure of Mercury: CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
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