New Value for Work Function of Sodium and the Observation of Surface- Plasmon Effects

R. J. Whitefield; J. J. Brady

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.26.380

New Value for Work Function of Sodium and the Observation of Surface- Plasmon Effects

R. J. Whitefield and J. J. Brady

Phys. Rev. Lett. 26, 380 – Published 15 February 1971; Erratum Phys. Rev. Lett. 26, 1005 (1971)

Abstract

Clean vacuum-deposited films of sodium were found to exhibit a work function of approximately 2.75 eV. Modification of the surface-plasmon frequency due to sulfur surface contamination was observed. The new value of the work function was shown to be due to a lack of surface contamination.