KA6045 Operating Unit for Franck-Hertz Experiments, Hg & Ne

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The Franck-Hertz experiment, (1913, Nobel Prize 1926), with the well defined periodic and equidistant minima and maxima of the collector electrode current, is undoubtedly one of the most impressive experiments to demonstrate and verify the quantum theory. In these demonstrations, it is possible to observe energy transitions produced by collisions between electrons and atoms. At first these collisions take place elastically without significant transfer of energy. As the accelerating voltage is increased, non elastic collisions take place. This energy transfer reappears with progressively increasing accelerating voltage.

KA6045 Operating Unit (middle item in picture only) for F-H Experiments This unit provides all voltages necessary for either tube, Hg or Ne, and also contains a highly sensitive DC amplifier for measuring the collector current. Set up of the Franck-Hertz experiments becomes quite simple when using this unit. A sawtooth waveform accelerating voltage can be produced when the experiment is run with an oscilloscope. When set to maximum sensitivity, a collector current of 5 x 10-11 A produces a signal output of 1 V. The collector current is amplified so that signal voltages up to 10 V are available for vertical deflection. Alternately, any common meter can be used as an output indicator